Health blog Category: Hip
Snapping, Clicking, and Weakness in the Lower Body
Hip pain affects people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, because the hip is a weight bearing joint, most people find difficulty in creating lasting relief for their symptoms.
The most common symptoms of hip issues include pain in either the front, side or back of the hip. The pain may also localize in the lower back, groin or buttocks. When this happens, it common for people to ignore the actual hip joint and therefore, not address the inherent weakness or tightness or poor mechanics of this joint that is causing these issues.
Instability when walking, playing sports or standing?
Hip pain is a very common problem which can cause difficulty with many daily activities. People often come to physical therapy with different complaints involving the hip. The number one complaint is pain localized to the hip joint and muscles surrounding the joint. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the hip and the lower back. This causes difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg. When you are dealing with pain or stiffness in your hip, it can create difficulty performing the following activities:
- Walking
- Going up or down stairs
- Squatting
- Standing up from a chair
- Prolonged sitting
- Prolonged standing
When a patient is feeling significant stiffness in their hips, they can also start to experience difficulty with tasks such as sitting with their legs crossed, putting on shoes and socks, and getting in and out of the car.
Read full blogSitting cross-legged or putting shoes on difficult
Hip pain is a very common problem we treat here at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center and it can result in difficulty with many daily activities. People frequently come to physical therapy with different complaints involving the hip. The number one complaint being pain localized to the hip joint and muscles surrounding the joint. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the hip and even the lower back. These issues create difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg.
Read full blogTop 5 Questions About Running
The concept of running seems easy. You put on a pair of sneakers, head outside and begin your journey. However, there are a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings about the sport that I would like to help dispel.
Whether you’re an avid runner, a weekend warrior, a beginner, or someone who only runs if you’re being chased, I’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions I’ve been asked about running.
- Will running cause arthritis?
Keep IT Band Syndrome from Slowing Down Runs
By Cierra Washington, ATC
You’ve probably heard of IT Band syndrome. But what is it exactly? Let’s start with the name. The ‘IT’ refers to the iliotibial band that runs along the outer portion of the thigh. When people refer to the IT band, they often have the misconception that it’s a muscle. Actually, the IT band is the long tendon of the tensor fascia latae (TFL). The TFL performs multiple hip functions and also helps stabilize our torsos.
Read full blogLife From the Other Side of the Treatment Table
By: Kate Zanoni, LPTA
If you’ve been in the clinic over the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen me around, except not in my usual capacity. I temporarily traded in my clinician hat for that of a patient’s following hip surgery. In September 2017, I was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), greater trochanteric bursitis and a labral tear in my left hip. Fortunately, I don’t have any crazy story explaining any mechanism of injury because there wasn’t one.
Hip Problems Can Happen to All Age Groups
In physical therapy we see a lot of hip problems. These injuries range from bursitis to fractures to replacements. Some hip problems happen to healthy joints, while others occur in the elderly due to osteoporosis or because of congenital deformities. Either way, physical therapy can be beneficial and help strengthen the muscles around the injury, improve balance, and help patients return to normal function whether it is walking around without a cane or a walker or returning to their sport.
Read full blogThree Common Hip Problems and How PT Can Help
By: Angie Austin, LPTA
Hip problems make daily activities like simply walking difficult and painful. When you talk to your physical therapist or doctor about your hip pain, it’s important to be able to describe exactly where your pain is located. This helps confirm that your hip is actually the problem. It’s not uncommon for us to hear a patient say ‘my hip hurts’ and then once we’ve done a full evaluation of their area of pain, we find they actually are having a back-related problem.
Hip Pain and Hamstring Strains
Hamstring strains and injuries can often lead to hip pain – a common condition we treat at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center. The hamstring muscle group is located on the back side of the thigh and is made up of three muscles. These three muscles originate on the hip bone and attach at the knee joint. When these muscles contract, the knee bends into a flexed position. When they relax, the knee is able to straighten back out.
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