Hip/Pain Rehabilitation Specialist

What is hip pain?

Hip pain is a common condition that can cause pain inside the joint, outside the hip, or even on the upper thighs, buttocks, or groin. Hip pain can be acute, like from a recent impact or injury, or chronic caused by a degenerative disease.  

What causes hip pain?

Many conditions cause hip pain, including the result of an injury, joint deterioration, or general overuse. Some of the most common hip pain causes include:

Bursitis

Bursitis affects the small, fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that provide a layer of cushion for your muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. When these bursae become inflamed, they may cause hip pain and limit your mobility.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons just outside your hip joint. Tendinitis pain typically feels like a dull ache when you move or stretch your hip.

Arthritis

There are two main types of arthritis that cause hip pain. Osteoarthritis is a painful condition in which the cartilage in the hip joint begins to wear down, allowing your bones to rub together and cause friction. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an inflammatory autoimmune condition that often causes chronic hip pain.

Sciatica

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve in your lower back becomes pinched, irritated, or inflamed. This can cause pain that radiates through your lower back, upper thighs, and hips.

Most outer hip pain stems from problems in the soft tissues, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that surround your hip joint.

How is hip pain treated?

After an injury or surgery, a rehabilitation program can help you regain strength, restore flexibility, and improve the range of motion in your hips. At Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy, the physical therapists use diagnostic techniques, X-rays, gait evaluations, functional mobility tests, and range-of-motion tests, to determine the exact cause of your hip pain.

Once the team knows what is causing your hip pain, they can design an individualized rehabilitation plan that allows you to return to your normal activities as soon as possible. 

Some effective hip rehabilitation treatments include:

Exercise

The team recommends therapeutic strengthening exercises and targeted stretches to reduce hip pain and help you regain mobility.

Heat and ice therapy

Ice therapy reduces inflammation and relieves pain by slowing blood flow, while heat therapy increases blood flow and helps loosen tight muscles. Alternating between hot and cold can help relieve pain and inflammation while promoting a quick recovery.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy is a noninvasive pain treatment that stimulates your body’s natural healing process to repair damaged tissues, muscles, joints, ligaments, or tendons after an injury or surgery.

There are many ways to treat hip pain at Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy. To learn more about the physical therapy options, call the office or schedule a consultation online.