Hip Physical Therapy: Restore Motion, Strength, and Stability
If you are experiencing mild to severe pain in your hip associated with stiffness or swelling, arthritis might just be the cause.
It is important to contact a physical therapist immediately. Commencing treatment early eliminates the need for pain killers and surgery later on.
Physical therapy helps to relieve pain, strengthen the hip joint, and provide motion and flexibility, so you can get back to your normal activities in a short time.
Contact us today to get started.
Know Your Hip
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The femur (thigh bone) has a ball at its’s upper end which is called the femoral bone. The socket is part of the pelvis bone, and it’s called the acetabulum. As the ball moves in the socket, this allows you to rotate your legs and move them sideways, forward, or backward. The surfaces of the socket and the ball are covered with a tissue called the articular cartilage. This tissue prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. Another thin tissue called the synovial membrane produces fluid that lubricates the cartilage and reduces friction.
Symptoms of Hip Arthritis
- Aching pain in your thigh or groin area, that might spread across the buttocks or knee
- Hip joint stiffness that makes it difficult to bend or walk
- Reduced range of motion of the hip that limits the ability to talk, or perform simple activities such as putting your socks or shoe on
- Squeaky or clicking noise in the hip joint during movement
A severe injury of the bicep tendons can also lead to surgery.
Arthritis is a degenerative disease that attacks the bones and damages the cartilage that makes the bones able to move easily without friction. The loss of cartilage results in the bones rubbing against each other, and this causes pain.
Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the hip joint is damaged, causing pain in the hip. This can range from mild to moderate to severe.
There are different types of hip arthritis. They include:
Osteoarthritis
This form of arthritis is common in persons from 40 years of age most especially women. It can also occur in younger people.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This happens when your immune system attacks your joints. The synovial membrane covering the joints becomes inflamed. This can damage the cartilage and lead to stiffness and pain in the hip
Post-traumatic arthritis
This begins to develop after a hip injury, where fractures and tears may damage the cartilage.
Risk Factors for Hip Arthritis
Several factors could increase the risk of hip arthritis. They include:
Age : older people are prone to hip osteoarthritis
Family history of osteoarthritis
Obesity
Improper formation of the hip joint during childhood
Infections
Hip injuries
Hip Arthritis Diagnosis