Health blog Category: hip joint
Impact of Everyday Hip Pain
The impact of hip pain is something that will affect you everyday. The hip is a weight bearing joint, which is why most people find difficulty in creating lasting relief for their symptoms when they are experiencing hip pain.
The common reaction is to cover up the problem with some painkillers or stopping whatever activity bothers you as much as possible- but that is only putting a band-aid on the problem, not getting to the root of it!
Read full blogThree Common Sources of Hip Pain
Hip pain can present in many ways. In this blog we will discuss some of the common problems we see here at LSTC!
- Osteoarthritis: wearing of the joint surfaces (cartilage) of the hip joint
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Wear and Tear
- Prior trauma
- FAI: see below
- Symptoms:
- Pain worse with prolonged positioning (e.g. sitting for a long period of time
- Pain worse in the morning: typically resolves within 5-10 minutes of movement
- Pain worse with cold weather
- Decreased mobility
- Difficulty walking
- Groin, buttock, or knee pain
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Femoracetabular Impingement (FAI): excess contact between the acetabulum (hip socket) and proximal femur (top of the hip bone) because of how the bones are shaped/sized
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Cam-type impingement: the hip bone is too big near the top (at the femoral neck)
- More common in biological men
- Pincer-type impingement: the socket (acetabulum) is too big
- More common in biological women
- Repetitive stress: certain activities will place increased stress on bones. The way the body responds to increased stress is by laying down more bone in those areas. This extra bone can result in increased contact between the joint surfaces
- Cam-type impingement: the hip bone is too big near the top (at the femoral neck)
- Symptoms:
- Anterior hip/groin pain
- Buttock pain
- Catching, Giving-way sensations, popping, locking
- Pain with sitting, squatting, stair navigation
- Pain with acceleration in sports
- Decreased available motion
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: resultant of gluteal tendon damage or bursa (fluid filled sac) inflammation
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Sedentary Nature
- Improper athletic training: lack of gradual progression
- Repetitive Activity
- Symptoms:
- Lateral hip pain
- Pain lying on the affected side
- Pain with prolonged sitting and/or sitting with legs crossed
- Pain with walking, stair navigation, standing, running
- Mechanism of Injury:
Why Physical Therapy, Why NOW?!
Read full blogCommon Hip Pathologies
While the pain or limitations you feel are at your hip, the evaluating doctor of physical therapy can determine where and what is causing your pain (even if it’s coming from another region, like your low back or pelvis). If the condition proves to require further medical testing, the evaluating therapist will be able to determine that and direct you accordingly.
Common Conditions:
- Osteoarthritis: wearing of the joint surfaces (cartilage) of the hip joint
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Wear and Tear
- Prior trauma
- FAI: see below
- Symptoms:
- Pain worse with prolonged positioning (e.g.
- Mechanism of Injury:
Structures of Our Hips
The hip joint is one of the most stable joints in the body, but unfortunately that does not keep this joint and region of the body from developing issues and producing pain.
There are multiple structures in and around this joint that can produce pain in this area of the body:
- Labrum– the ring of cartilage around the rim of the socket of the hip joint. Tears can produce symptoms of:
- catching
- locking
- giving out of the joint
- Hip abnormalities– abnormalities in the shape, size, or position of the ball or socket of the hip joint that can cause instability of the joint, pinching of the hip and a deep pain.
Sore Hip & Getting Relief
What is hip pain?
The hip is comprised of the acetabulum- a ring shaped surface, and the head of the femur- a ball shaped structure. It’s where the leg attaches to the trunk. The hip has the functional ability to rotate out (external rotation), rotate in (internal rotation), move forward(flexion), move backward (extension), move toward the center of your body (adduction), and move out from the center of your body (abduction). Conditions named for the hip are those associated with pain during production of any of the above movements and/or pain located at your hip bone or inner thigh region with activity.
Why is it so confusing?
Read full blogThe Truth Behind Our Hip Pain
Causes of Hip Pain
There are multiple structures in and around the hip joint that can produce pain in this area of the body:
- Labrum– the ring of cartilage around the rim of the socket of the hip joint. Tears can produce symptoms of catching, locking or giving out of the hip.
- Hip abnormalities– abnormalities in the shape, size, or position of the ball or socket of the hip joint that can cause instability of the joint, pinching of the hip and a deep pain.
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 blog