By Abbey Fecher, DPT
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. Having pain or stiffness in your hip can cause difficulty with the following functional activities:
- Walking
- Going up and down stairs
- Squatting
- Standing up from a chair
- Standing for prolonged periods of time
When there is significant stiffness in your hip, you may also start to experience trouble completing tasks such as sitting with your legs crossed, putting on your shoes and socks and getting in and out of the car. Think about how many times you have to perform any of these movements. Hip pain and stiffness can really limit your daily routine and become a serious problem.
So what causes hip problems? Hip conditions cam stem from a number of things. Some of the most common hip injuries include arthritis, labral tears and muscle strains. Regardless of the injury, inflammation is typically present and will contribute to stiffness, loss of ROM, muscle weakness and pain. Prolonged inflammation will cause slowed tissue healing and can start to negatively affect the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that surround the hip. Muscle weakness will lead to a change in your movement mechanics and put increased stress on your hip and back or your opposite hip. The longer you experience symptoms, the weaker and stiffer your hip can become, further limiting your mobility.
The good news is that there are many treatment options for hip pain. A majority of hip problems can be resolved with physical therapy with no need for surgery, prescription medications or injections. Physical therapy will help will help decrease your pain and improve your mobility regardless if you have been experiencing pain for days or years. Through specific strengthening and stretching exercises, physical therapy can help restore normal muscle balance in your legs and off load your hips resulting in improved mechanics and decreased pain. Physical therapy will also teach you proper movement patterns to ensure proper alignment and resolve or prevent hip problems that are negatively affecting your life. At Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, our physical therapists will fully evaluate your hip and associated symptoms and help restore your full function and get you back to your normal lifestyle.
