Hip Physical Therapy
The hip joint is the body’s largest ball and socket joint and demands both strength and flexibility to function well.
Hip Physical Therapy
The hip joint is the body’s largest ball and socket joint and demands both strength and flexibility to function well. Properly functioning hips allow us to walk, jump, and bend successfully.
The hip is home to similar anatomical structures found in other major joints of the body: cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles come together to support the body’s weight and provide for stability and movement of the body. The healthy hip is a stable joint and typically requires tremendous force to become seriously injured however overuse injuries from playing sports or a high level of activity are quite common.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Bursitis
Common Causes of Hip Bursitis:
- Bone spurs
- Overuse
- Prior hip injury or surgery
- Repetitive stress
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal Diseases (scoliosis)
Common Signs and Symptoms of Hip Bursitis:
- Dull ache
- Sharp pain
- Worsening pain when walking, climbing, squatting
Labrum Tear
This is a common hip injury that develops from trauma or activities that place heavy loads upon the hip. The symptoms are due to an injury of cartilaginous ring that surrounds the hip socket.
Common Causes of Labrum Tears:
- Anatomical abnormality
- Injury (especially sports related)
- Sudden twisting motion
- Trauma (such as a motor vehicle accident)
Common Signs and Symptoms of Labrum Tears:
- Catching
- Clicking
- Limited range of motion
- Locking
- Pain (especially hip, pelvis, back)
- Stiffness
Arthritis
The pain of osteoarthritis can make daily activities troublesome or nearly impossible. Although there is no cure, there are treatments to relieve pain, improve function and slow progression.
Common Causes of Hip Arthritis:
- Age-related cartilage wear-and-tear
- Excessive body weight
- Genetics/heredity
- Prior injury (especially surgery or trauma)
- Repetitive motion stress
Common Signs and Symptoms of Hip Arthritis:
- Decreased flexibility
- Grating or grinding sensation/noise
- Hard lumps or bone spurs
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Tenderness (even with light pressure)
Pain in the hip region can affect all age groups for a variety of reasons from the young active athlete to the aging senior. Understanding the true cause of your hip pain and recommending the most effective option to get you back to enjoying your life is the primary goal of physical therapy.
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