Hip pain can be incredibly uncomfortable to deal with on a regular basis because our hips handle strain when we’re walking, standing or sitting down. If these actions cause discomfort, you’re going to be in pain at almost all waking hours of the day. Dealing with chronic hip pain is no way to go through life, and although hip replacement surgery has only become more effective in recent years, oftentimes there is a much simpler treatment for your hip pain. Below, we take a closer look at how physical therapy can typically help you overcome a number of the most common causes of hip pain.
Physical Therapy For Hip Pain
There are a number of different factors and underlying conditions that can lead to chronic hip pain, but physical therapy can typically help counteract most of these issues. Here’s a look at some common sources of hip pain, and how PT can help.
- Nerve Impingement – Your sciatic nerve begins in your lower back and passes by the hip area as it traverses down your leg. The hip area is a common place where the nerve can become impinged or irritated, and this can lead to localized hip discomfort or shooting pain. Physical therapy is highly effective at treating the root cause of your sciatic nerve pain. We can work to strengthen structures so that they can better handle stress and avoid causing an inflammatory reaction that can compress the nerve, or we can help correct your posture so that the nerve is less likely to be compressed by nearby structures. Not only can we pinpoint the source of your sciatic nerve issue, but we can help treat the underlying problem.
- Posture Issues – Speaking of posture problems, oftentimes poor posture can cause more issues for your hips than just triggering a sciatic nerve issue. When you’re seated, your lower back and hips bear the weight of your upper body, and if you’re slouched in your chair they have to handle even more strain. This prolonged static pressure on soft tissues in the hip can lead to muscle weakness and ligament loosening, decreasing the stability of your hip joints and increasing your likelihood of pain and discomfort. A physical therapist can help to strengthen and stabilize these soft tissues and ensure that you understand how to maintain a healthy posture when seated or standing.
- Pregnancy-Related Hip and Pelvis Pain – Your body goes through some incredible changes during pregnancy and childbirth, but these changes can also leave you feeling a little worse for the wear when all is said and done. We have physical therapists that specialize in pregnancy and postpartum hip and pelvic strengthening techniques so you can start to feel like your old self again after you’ve given birth.
- Hip Arthritis – Osteoarthritis of the hip is a degenerative condition that, if left untreated, will likely continue to worsen and could lead to the eventual need for a hip replacement. Because hip arthritis cannot be reversed, it’s imperative that you connect with a physical therapist to help strengthen the hip and the nearby soft tissues to help slow or stop the progression of your osteoarthritis. Simple strength training and mobility exercises can help you remain independent by slowing down osteoarthritic joint degeneration in your hip.
- Hip Replacement – If you are set to undergo a hip replacement procedure, you can expect to connect with a physical therapist in the near future. Physical therapy is arguably the single most important aspect of your rehabilitation, because it will help your new hip establish strength, mobility and physical function. The more effort you put into your physical therapy sessions after a hip replacement, the more you’ll get out of the program, and the higher likelihood that you’ll be able to remain active and independent for years to come. It’s never a good idea to skip your PT sessions, but that’s especially true after a joint replacement procedure.
So if you’ve been dealing with hip discomfort or you’re currently managing arthritis progression in the area, consider connecting with a physical therapist to help calm or alleviate your issues. In the greater Twin Cities area, consider reaching out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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