Hip Pain Physical Therapy

+ What Causes Hip Pain?

The hip joint is the strongest joint in the human body and is surrounded by some of the largest muscles you have. This robust ball-and-socket joint is not only powerful and stable, but it is also quite flexible. The hip’s flexibility allows for a substantial range of motion that is second only to the shoulder joint. The muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage that form the hip work together to let you walk, run, jump, and move efficiently for most daily tasks.

Due to the amount of movement and stress placed every day on the hip, there are many potential causes of hip pain. Some of the most common causes include:

• Arthritis. Several types of arthritis can affect the hip, including osteoarthritis, which is the most common. Osteoarthritis occurs from years of wear and tear on the hip joint.
• Bursitis. You have fluid-filled sacs called bursa that cushion your joints. When these become inflamed, pain occurs when you move your hip.
• Tendonitis. An inflamed or irritated hip tendon can cause pain known as hip tendonitis or hip flexor tendonitis. This condition is common in people who run, cycle, swim, or participate in exercise classes.
• Hip fractures. Older adults experience more hip fractures after falling.
• Referred pain. Lower back or sciatic nerve injury can cause referred pain in the hip area.

+ What is Hip Impingement?

When the hip joint ball can’t glide smoothly within the socket, the excess friction causes a problem known as hip impingement. Hip impingement usually causes pain in the joint and a diminished range of motion.

+ What is a Hip Labral Tear?

Soft tissue, known as the labrum, covers the socket of the hip joint. Injury or degenerative problems can cause a tear in the labrum, which results in hip pain and stiffness.

+ Can Sciatica Cause Hip Pain?

Sciatica is a common term used when you have pain radiating down from your back into your leg. Hip pain and sciatic pain can be difficult to differentiate, as the sciatic nerve travels along the back of the hip.

+ How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Our trained occupational and physical therapists can design a specific treatment program to help speed your recovery from hip pain. Your program may include one or more of the following:

• Ice packs
• Flexibility exercises
• Functional strengthening exercises
• Gait training