Hip Pain

Hip pain can be due to a variety of causes, ranging from overuse injuries to arthritis.  It can be a temporary, short-term annoyance or a bigger issue that may need intervention such as physical therapy or surgery.  Here are some common hip conditions that can be treated with physical therapy:

Hip (trochanteric) bursitis:

Bursitis occurs when the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions spaces around bones and other tissue, becomes inflamed.  Some common symptoms include pain on the outside of your hip, in the side of your upper thigh or your buttock.  It is most affected when lying on the painful side or standing after sitting.  It typically worsens when using your hip, such as prolonged walking or climbing stairs.  Hip bursitis is caused by performing repetitive motions such as lifting boxes at work, climbing up and down stairs, or activities that place a lot of stress on your hips such as cycling or running.  It can also occur acutely, like falling, bumping or lying on one hip for a long time.  Physical therapy for hip bursitis may include heat and/or ice, stretches and strengthening exercises to help stabilize the hip joint.

Hip labral tear:

The labrum is a rim of cartilage that lines the hip socket and provides stability to the joint.  Some common symptoms include hip pain associated with clicking, locking and/or popping.  In almost all cases, pain is located in the anterior hip and groin.  Patients typically make a “C sign” – grasping the affected hip with their hand indicating both anterior and posterior hip pain – when explaining where their pain is.  Labral tears can occur over time with repetitive movements that put too much pressure on your hip.  Most commonly, a labral tear is in occurrence with a femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). A FAI can happen when your hip joint doesn’t fit together as it should, increasing pressure and friction to the joint eventually leading to a labral tear.  Labral tears can be managed conservatively through strengthening the muscles that stabilize the joint.  If conservative treatment fails and surgery is recommended, our OSR providers will help you get in with the best specialists in the state!

Hip osteoarthritis (OA):

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and occurs when the cartilage that line the joint wears down, resulting in your bones rubbing together.  Common symptoms include pain in joint which increases with movement, stiffness, swelling, limited range of motion and decreased stability.  Hip OA can be treated conservatively by strengthening the muscles that stabilize the joint while limiting painful movements.  Other conservative options include the use of NSAIDs and cortisone injections.  If conservative therapy fails or pain continues to increase, a total hip replacement would be recommended.  If that’s the case, OSR’s providers can help get you in with the best joint replacement specialists in the area!

Piriformis syndrome:

The piriformis muscle is a small muscle located deep in the buttocks.  Piriformis syndrome occurs when the muscle tightens and compresses your sciatic nerve resulting in pain and inflammation.  Common  symptoms include a dull ache, burning, numbness, pain and/or tingling in your butt or down the back of your leg.  Symptoms typically worsen with prolonged sitting, prolonged walking or running and climbing stairs.  Physical therapy can help with your pain by showing you the proper stretches to do to help lengthen the piriformis and strengthen the muscles that stabilize the joint.

 

Other conditions treated:

Pre/Post Op Hip Replacement

Post Op Hip fractures

Hip Stress Fractures

Glute Tendonitis/Tendonosis

Glute Muscle Strains

Hip Pointers/Contusions

Iliopsoas Impingement

Snapping Hip

Femeroacetabular Impingement