Hip Pain

What causes hip pain?

Your hip carries the weight of your upper body while supporting leg movement, leading to pain from many possible causes.

You may experience a sudden, traumatic accident causing a hip fracture or dislocation. However, hip pain most often develops gradually due to repetitive movements (overuse injuries), degenerative diseases, poor posture, muscle imbalances, and age-related changes.

A few problems that frequently cause hip pain include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Cartilage tears (hip labral tear)
• Pinched nerves in your lower back
• Femoroacetabular impingement (irregularly shaped bones rub together)
• Sacroiliac joint syndrome (problems in the joint connecting the spine to your hip)
• Tight hip flexors (muscles that lift your leg, propel you forward, and stabilize the joint)

Hip problems account for 6% of athletic injuries, often resulting in pulled muscles and ligaments, labral tears, or bursitis.

What symptoms accompany hip pain?

Hip pain may be your only symptom, but chances are you’ll also have one or more of the following:

• Joint stiffness
• Swelling or tenderness
• Limited hip movement
• Gait abnormalities
• Hip weakness
• Lower back pain
• Difficulty moving your leg
• Difficulty putting weight on the hip
• Grinding or clicking sensations in the joint

Your pain may feel worse when lying on the affected side.

How do physical therapists treat hip pain?

The experts at Bowman Physical Therapy begin by completing a physical exam and identifying the cause of your pain. Then, your therapist develops a customized treatment plan, drawing from numerous therapies and taking full advantage of their state-of-the-art facility.

These are only a few of the therapies they use to relieve hip pain:

• Manual therapies
• Ultrasound therapy
• Strengthening exercises
• Flexibility and mobility exercises
• Posture training
• Movement re-education
• Functional training
• Dynatron Solaris® Plus treatments

The Dynatron Solaris Plus delivers three beneficial treatments: electrotherapy, triwave light therapy, and ThermoStim®. The ThermoStim device improves hip pain by combining tissue mobilization with heat or electrical stimulation with cold.

Can I get physical therapy after a hip replacement?

At Bowman Physical Therapy, you can depend on exceptional rehabilitation after a hip replacement. 

Physical therapy and rehabilitation begin shortly after surgery, helping you to safely rehabilitate, strengthen muscles, overcome stiffness, regain balance, and restore optimal hip movement and function.

The professionals at Bowman Physical Therapy have years of experience providing therapies that promote healing, ease hip pain, and improve your quality of life. Call the office or request an appointment using the online booking feature today.