Hip Pain Treatment in the Greater Phoenix Area
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, and Fountain Hills
Approximately 15% of American adults aged 65 or over experience hip pain, and many outside this demographic deal with issues related to their hips caused by injuries and other medical issues. Hip issues are often complicated by the complexity of the joint, which is a ball-and-socket joint that supports upper body weight while allowing free leg movement.
Hip pain affects the afflicted person's life in several ways. Reduced leg movement can make walking and running more difficult. These challenges can lead to less physical activity, increasing the patient's weight. Worse yet, this added weight intensifies the pain in the hips by placing more pressure on joints that are already struggling. Ultimately, hip pain is responsible for lower activity levels, constant aches, and a lack of mobility.
Hip Pain Signs or Symptoms
Pain in the hip or groin, particularly after walking or exercising. However, this pain can also occur if somebody sleeps in an awkward position. Soreness experienced immediately following exercise is often an early sign of hip arthritis.
Compensation for pain that leads to a limp. The hips support body weight in addition to aiding in leg function. Trying to support weight on a damaged hip can lead to improper gait, and a limp develops. The limp could lead to issues with the knees, ankles, and feet.
Stiffness when bending over or squatting. People with hip pain may also experience stiffness when putting on their shoes and socks.
Tenderness to the touch, often accompanied by swelling in the affected area. Both are potentially signs of inflammation or damage to the hip bones. The swelling may occur on the skin, the muscles closest to the skin, or internally within the hip joint.
Difficulty getting into a comfortable sleeping position that doesn't place pressure onto the hip joints.
Causes of Hip Pain
Tendonitis can affect both the groin and the muscles inside and around the hip, collectively known as the hip flexor. This condition occurs with overuse of the muscles, which strains the tendons that connect them to the hip bone.
A core muscle injury, including pulls or tears in the muscles near the hip or similar injuries to the soft tissues in the lower abdominal region. These injuries commonly occur when twisting, turning, and exercising without warming up first.
Damage to or loss of the cartilage that provides cushioning between the ball and socket joints in the hip. Less cushioning means the hip bones grind against each other to cause pain.
Inflammation of the bursal sacs which prevent tendons and muscles from making contact with nearby bone. This type of inflammation is most common when somebody experiences pain in their thighs and buttocks, in addition to their hips.
Hip impingement resulting from constant engagement in intense athletics. People who participate in CrossFit, Tough Mudder races, and similar high-impact activities are at risk of developing this condition.
A chronic dull ache is often the result of osteoarthritis. This condition is most common in older people, though it can also occur due to hip impingement or if the hip bones are not aligned correctly.
Fractures can have long-lasting effects, particularly if they are not rehabilitated effectively. A fracture may also create bone spurs, damaging muscle tissue and placing pressure on the nerves that run past the hip bones.
How Can Physical Therapy Help With Hip Pain
It's not only the ball and socket joints that create a risk of hip pain. Nearly 30 muscles surround the hip joints, all of which are vulnerable to wear, tears, and tendonitis. In many cases, strengthening these muscles can alleviate hip pain.
This is where physiotherapy comes in. A therapist creates a physiotherapy program targeted at strengthening the affected muscles, improving hip motion, and strengthening the muscles responsible for twisting, turning, and moving the legs.
Before creating a program, our physiotherapists examine their patients in several ways. First, they'll conduct tests for balance, range of motion, and basic functions, including walking and climbing stairs. These tests allow the therapist to hone in on the specific issues causing pain and limited mobility. The physio creates an exercise plan to improve mobility and alleviate discomfort with this knowledge.
Typical physical therapy treatments for hip pain include balance training, stretching, and joint mobilization exercises. More advanced cases may require ultrasound, ice, heat, or electrical stimulation therapy. Most of these exercises can be done at home, with only the more advanced therapies potentially requiring a visit to a treatment center.
Physical therapy can benefit patients before and after surgery. Research shows that engaging in prehabilitation before surgery leads to shorter recovery periods. Adding post-surgical rehabilitation to this equation speeds up recovery further, leaving the patient more mobile and confident in the strength of their hips.
OUR REVIEWS
Our goal is to provide supportive and effective patient care.
With such a complex series of mechanisms to consider, getting to the root cause of hip pain requires an expert touch.
At Liberated Rehabilitation, our professional physiotherapists understand the collection of muscles and joints that make up the hip. They can recognize specific issues to ensure that the programs they create serve patients.
Our goal is always to combine pain relief with increased mobility, ensuring patients can reclaim their lives and continue to enjoy their favorite activities.