Hip pain is a real drag — especially when it doesn't resolve on its own. Injuries, wear-and-tear, and arthritis are common causes of hip discomfort of varying degrees.
Conservative measures are typically the first line of treatment for hip pain, especially when it's mild to moderate and only affects some of your activities. Along with ice, heat, and medications, physical therapy is one of the most promising treatments for hip pain.
At the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico, Dr. Omar Osmani offers physical therapy and surgical hip replacements for hip pain and joint arthritis.
Dr. Osmani is an experienced orthopedic surgeon who offers conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, to ease hip pain and help patients avoid surgical interventions.
Hip pain is common among people of all ages. It can be caused by a sports injury that tears the labrum of the hip joint or by arthritis and damage within the joint.
The hip joints are large, provide stability to the lower body, and allow you to move and balance yourself. When hip pain strikes, it puts movement and balance at risk, which could lead to further injuries and falls.
Getting to the bottom of the problem can be complicated, but a few culprits could be to blame. Some of the more common causes of hip pain include:
Wear-and-tear of the hip joints is prevalent because we use the joints so often. People who run, exercise regularly, or who play sports are especially at risk for hip injuries.
Older adults are also prone to hip fractures due to muscle weakness and osteoporosis. Hip pain usually indicates an issue, whether a minor strain or a bigger problem.
Physical therapy is one of the most influential conservative treatments for musculoskeletal issues and injuries. It's a whole-body approach that helps you focus on strength, balance, and flexibility to improve pain and motion in a specific body part.
Dr. Osmani often recommends physical therapy, activity modifications, medications, and home care. Physical therapy is usually the first line of treatment for minor injuries and arthritis because it's noninvasive and yields good results.
Physical therapy for hip pain aims to decrease pain by strengthening the muscles and tissues that support the joint. It also focuses on flexibility and stability to prevent further damage to the bone and tissues.
At a physical therapy appointment, the therapist typically evaluates the hip and your strength and flexibility. They watch you walk to evaluate your gait and take measurements of your range of motion.
The physical therapist creates a customized plan to help you with your needs and goals. This plan typically involves strength exercises, flexibility stretches, and balance exercises to increase joint mobility.
Physical therapy is an ongoing treatment that may last for several weeks to months, depending on the severity of the issue. You should continue stretching the hip and performing strength exercises even after formal therapy.
At our practice, Dr. Osmani often recommends physical therapy for hip pain as a first line of treatment because it's highly effective. If you have arthritis or a chronic injury, physical therapy can improve your life and prevent further issues in the hip joint.
It's an excellent option for people living with arthritis because it allows you to reduce pain conservatively and sometimes prevent the condition from worsening. Strengthening the muscles around the hip joints provides support and stability to keep the joint protected.
By participating in physical therapy, you may even delay the need for hip replacement surgery — but how? The exercises your therapist provides allow you to improve balance, range of motion, and mobility, allowing you to participate in everyday activities, usually with reduced pain.
Various exercises are necessary to provide hip pain relief. Some of the exercises you can expect to help reduce hip pain during physical therapy include:
The therapist may have you use resistance bands or weight machines to perform these exercises as you progress to increase your strength. The more you move the affected hip, the better off you'll be in the long run.
Dr. Osmani may also combine other treatments, such as steroid injections, medications, and regenerative medicine, to help relieve chronic or acute hip pain.
Call our Roswell, New Mexico office today to schedule an appointment for hip pain or physical therapy. You may also request an appointment with Dr. Osmani on our website.
