Our hips play an integral role in helping us walk, run and move, but at the same time, a problem with your hip can easily lead to pain throughout the day because of how often we put stress on the area. Thankfully, many hip conditions respond well to conservative treatments, and one of the most effective non-operative treatments for different hip problems is physical therapy. In today’s blog, we take a look at five hip conditions that can oftentimes be successfully treated with physical therapy.
Treating Hip Pain With Physical Therapy
There are a number of different conditions that can cause hip discomfort, but we’re going to look at five of the most common issues that tend to respond well to physical therapy.
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip – Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and in the hip region, it occurs when natural wear and tear damages the soft cartilage in the area. It’s especially common in older or overweight adults, or in those who have suffered a previous hip injury. Physical therapy can’t reverse the damage caused by natural stress, but it can help to strengthen supportive structures so that your hip can better handle stress and slow the degenerative process.
- Hip Tendonitis – Tendonitis of the hip involves inflammation of the connective tissues in the joint. This typically happens as a result of overuse or inefficient movement patterns that put excessive stress on your hip. Your physical therapist can help to strengthen supportive structures, analyze your gait and make adjustments to your movement patterns, and help you develop an exercise or training routine that gives your hips enough time off so that they aren’t overstressed.
- Hip Strain – A hip strain is a minor or mild condition that occurs when muscles on the hip are overstretched or torn. Oftentimes this happens as a result of overuse or during actions that stretch the muscles beyond their normal range of motion. A physical therapist can help to protect and strengthen these muscle groups and develop an exercise routine that reduces hip muscle overuse.
- Sciatic Nerve Pain – Your hip pain could actually be caused by impingement or irritation of the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that runs from your lower back and down your legs. Depending on where the nerve compression occurs, pain, discomfort or range of motion limitations may be present in the hip area. We can help work to free the compressed nerve and improve posture or other factors that may be putting excessive pressure on the sciatic nerve.
- Pelvic Floor Problems – The hip and the pelvis are closely connected, as the pelvic floor muscles are directly attached to your hip muscles. Pelvic floor issues are extremely common in women following childbirth, but hip and pelvic problems respond well to targeted physical therapy. Learn more about the benefits of physical therapy after childbirth on this blog, and know that many pelvic and hip problems can be successfully treated with the help of a physical therapist.
For help with any of your hip issues, reach out to the team of physical therapists at OrthoRehab Specialists today!