How Physical Therapy Tackles Hip Pain
You want to take care of some chores or go for a walk — but hip pain is keeping you on the couch. If this sounds familiar, know that you don’t have to suffer! At The Physical Therapy Institute, our physical therapists will guide you through a simple process to address your hip pain so you can get active again.
This newsletter will take you through that process, from understanding your symptoms to the outcomes you can expect from physical therapy. Still have questions? Call us to schedule an appointment!
Pinpoint Your Symptoms
There are several potential reasons why someone might develop hip pain. To treat your pain effectively, we need to pinpoint what that cause could be.
When you visit us for your initial appointment, one of the first things we’ll do is ask you to share your symptoms. “Hip pain” often causes a lot more than just pain, and being able to describe your pain, mobility limitations, and other concerns helps us get a clearer picture of your condition.
For example, you know that your hip hurts. But when do you experience pain (i.e., during activity)? Does your pain come and go? Where do you experience pain? Is it just in your hip, or do you feel it elsewhere? Is the pain a dull ache? Sharp and shooting?
Make sure to share additional symptoms you might be experiencing, too. Here are some common ones:
- Stiffness/limited range of motion in your hip
- Weakness throughout the lower extremities
- Mobility issues, including walking, going up or down stairs, or struggling to stand up
- Difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as putting on your shoes — and let us know which ones
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Kelly and staff are great at Warrendale PTI. He took a great deal of time with me to learn what was going on and replayed the accident to see what all was affected in my neck, shoulder, shoulder blade and arm. He is very skilled, looks for the root of the problem, and spends time when working to repair the area. I would recommend Kelly to anyone as he definitely cares for the patient.”
– V.M.
Identify a Cause and Develop a Treatment Plan
Thanks to your detailed symptom description — as well as a health history and comprehensive physical exam — your therapist should be able to determine the underlying cause of your hip pain.
If you’re 55 or older, there’s a good chance your hip pain stems from osteoarthritis. This degenerative condition causes cartilage and bone tissue to break down, leading to pain and restricted mobility.
However, hip pain can also stem from an injury. If you’re an athlete or particularly active person, you may have suffered an acute injury, such as a labral tear, in which a ring of cartilage in the hip socket becomes damaged. You may have also sprained your hip — that is, damaged the ligaments that hold the joint together.
However, even if you haven’t had an obvious injury, an injury could still be to blame. Overuse injuries are injuries that develop gradually and, in the hip, generally affect the soft tissue — your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They usually occur due to repetitive movements or improper biomechanics.
Your treatment plan will vary based on the underlying cause of your pain, but in most cases, we aim to…
- Help manage acute pain with manual therapy, modalities, or gentle stretches.
- Improve mobility and range of motion through targeted stretches and exercises.
- Build strength in the muscles surrounding the hip to support the joint.
- Restore your ability to perform everyday movements, such as going up stairs — and for the athletes, we’ll help restore your ability to perform sport-specific movements.
Understand Your Outcomes
As with treatments, your exact outcomes will vary based on the underlying cause. However, other factors can come into play, too, such as age, health status, and the amount of time you can spend with physical therapy (whether in the clinic or performing home exercise programs).
For example, osteoarthritis has no cure, but you can manage your symptoms with regular physical activity. If you stick with your prescribed exercise program, you can minimize pain, slow the progression of your condition, and delay or even avoid surgery.
If you suffered an injury, you likely will be able to resolve your hip pain, usually within 1-3 months. However, if your injury was severe, full rehabilitation — the point at which you’ve fully restored strength and function — may take longer. Continuing any prescribed exercises is important even if you no longer feel pain.
Start Your Own Journey to Hip Pain Relief Today
No matter the reason for your hip pain, the physical therapists at The Physical Therapy Institute will guide you toward lasting relief. Call us today to schedule an appointment to get started!
Exercise of the Month
Simple Meditation
- Sit upright comfortably.
- Gently close your eyes.
- Breathe deeply.
- Slowly scan your body, and notice any sensations.
- Be aware of any thoughts you are having.
- When your mind wanders, focus on your breath.
- Gently open your eyes when you are ready.
Grilled Eggplant with Feta
Ingredients:
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 large garlic clove, or 2 small cloves, pressed or minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/3 cup)
Directions:
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Preheat the grill to high.
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Trim the ends off of the eggplant and cut it crosswise into 12 1/2-inch thick slices. Season just the tops of the slices lightly with salt.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, dried oregano, garlic, and salt.
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Lay the eggplant slices on the grill with the salted side up. Grill, uncovered, for 5 minutes, then flip.
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Spoon or brush all of the garlic-herb mixture over the tops, sprinkle evenly with the feta, then cover the grill and continue grilling until the cheese is melted and the eggplant is tender, about 5 minutes more.
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Transfer the grilled eggplant to a serving platter and serve hot or warm.
Valerie Mikec, PT • DPT • Center Manager – Moon Township Clinic
Staff Spotlight: Valerie Mikec
Valerie Mikec received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Wheeling University in 2020. She has worked for another outpatient clinic for 2 years prior to starting with Physical Therapy Institute in April 2023.
What’s A HEP — And Why Is It So Important to Your Success?
HEP stands for “home exercise program.” If you’re undergoing physical therapy with The Physical Therapy Institute, there’s a good chance your therapist will prescribe one to you.
It’s important to note that a HEP isn’t the same as an at-home workout program. With an at-home workout, your goal is general fitness. A HEP consists of curated exercises to help you achieve your rehabilitation goals.
We understand that an exercise routine can sometimes be difficult to work into a busy lifestyle. Therefore, we design our HEPs to be as straightforward as possible, with…
- Exercises you’ve done before
- A small time commitment
- Strategies for managing pain, if needed
However, we also want to make sure you understand why we prescribe a HEP at all! In fact, a HEP has multiple benefits:
- It improves outcomes: Patients who complete their prescribed HEP experience faster and more effective rehabilitation.
- It improves muscle memory: This means movements will become easier, and you’ll be able to more easily incorporate additional exercises during your in-clinic sessions.
- It helps develop a good habit: Even after you recover, regular physical activity is essential for good health. By completing your HEP, you get into the habit of moving daily.
In short, a HEP is a small way to make big changes! And if you think you might benefit from a personalized HEP, call us to schedule a consultation.