Hip Pain Physical Therapist in North Charlotte
You may be one of the many who have trouble sleeping on your side, feel like you cannot get your leg in a comfortable position, or experience weakness doing an activity like going upstairs. If you have been dealing with pain for years, you may even be considering a total hip replacement.
The hip joint is very stable and is the basis for so much of our movement because of the forces we generate with our big leg muscles, but frequent overuse occurs as a result. If unaddressed, hip issues can often lead to problems in the other leg joints. Knowing this at Uncommon, when you come in for an issue with your hip, we evaluate your entire lower body to remedy your current concerns and help prevent future challenges.
What is Hip Pain?
Hip pain is pain or discomfort in or around the hip joint. The hip joint is where your thigh bone (femur) connects to your pelvis. It is one of the largest joints in your body and is used for a variety of activities, such as walking, running, and sitting.
Hip pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:
- Arthritis: Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can damage the cartilage in the hip joint, leading to pain and stiffness
- Bursitis: Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, which is a small sac of fluid that cushions bones and tendons.
- Labral tear: The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps to stabilize the hip joint. A labral tear can cause pain, clicking, and popping in the hip joint.
- Hip fracture: A hip fracture is a break in the bone of the hip joint.
- Impingement syndrome: Impingement syndrome occurs when the ball of the thigh bone rubs against the edge of the socket of the hip joint. This can cause pain, clicking, and popping in the hip joint. Muscular imbalances, muscular irritation, bony changes over time and genetic abnormalities can all be causes of impingement.
COMMON CAUSES FOR HIP PAIN
There are many reasons why we face hip pain. Some of the most common causes include:
- Arthritis: As mentioned above the stable hip joint carries a lot of our body weight and helps us produce the forces to be active. Over time this loading of the joint could lead to hip arthritis.
- Bursitis: Bursitis can occur in the hip joint, causing pain and swelling. The most common form of hip bursitis is called trochanteric bursitis. This fluid-filled sac covers the bony point on the side of your hip, and irritation is usually a big cause of painful side sleeping.
- Labral tear: A labral tear usually occurs from hip impact wear and tear over time or a traumatic type of injury.
- Hip fracture: Most hip fractures are the result of a fall or a motor vehicle accident because your femur is a very strong bone and it takes a lot of force to create a fracture.
- Impingement syndrome: Muscular imbalances, muscular irritation, bony changes over time and genetic abnormalities can all be causes of impingement.
Free Consultation
Take advantage of a complimentary 15-minute phone conversation with a licensed Physical Therapist to discuss your concerns and ensure Uncommon Physical Therapy is best for you
(we know it will be)!
HOW TO RELIEVE HIP PAIN
Patients see the best results for hip therapy usually addressing limitations in hip range of motion, and strength along with soft tissue tightness and irritations. We achieve these great results with.
There are many ways to relieve hip pain. Some of the most effective methods include:
- Strengthening exercises: that focus on the glutes and hip musculature along with deep abdominal strengthening that supports the pelvis and lower back.
- Stretching exercises: there are a significant number of muscles that attach to the hip complex and having your therapist determine if you have any joint or muscular tightness helps speed up recovery.
- Manual therapy: we take a hands-on approach to manual therapy and use years of clinical experience to work on tight, sore, and inflamed soft tissue for quick patient relief from pain
- Dry-needling: the muscular tightness and trigger points found in the glute and hip can often give relief to pain referral patterns that cause deep dull aching in the hip joint.
- Rest: Having a conversation with your Physical Therapist about activity modification to promote healing is a great first step to feeling better for many patients. This may mean taking a break from your daily activities, such as exercise, or sports if they are hurting your hip.
- Ice: Applying ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time can help to reduce inflammation and pain. You can use a bag of frozen peas or a cold compress.
