Hip pain is a common complaint.  Hip pain can stop you from doing the activities that you enjoy: walking, running, golf, tennis, simply sitting or climbing stairs.

One in seven Americans reports an episode of significant hip pain in any six week period and accounts for 6 million doctor visits a year.

The hip joint works functionally with the knee joint. They are among the largest joints in your body and are subjected to tremendous forces  during daily activities.  Hip pain that is due to irritation of the joint tends to be felt on the inside of your hip or in your groin. Hip pain can also be caused by problems with the muscle, ligaments, tendons and other structures that support your hip.  Hip pain associated with these problems tends to occur on the outside of the hip or the upper thigh.

Common Hip Problems

• Bursitis
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Capsulitis
• Total Hip Replacement
• Hip Pain/Strain
• Degenerative Joint Disease/Osteoarthritis

Prevention programs at Westwood Physical Therapy
Arthritis is a common reason people require a total hip or knee joint replacement surgery later in life. Physical therapy may be able to help prevent or delay the need for this surgery by teaching individuals specific pain management techniques, exercises and stretches to decrease pain and improve function. Alternative modalities, such as ultrasound, low level laser, electrical stimulation and taping techniques may also be used to assist with pain management.

At Westwood Physical Therapy, our Physical Therapists will perform an evaluation to determine if your pain is due to a muscle imbalance in your legs, joint stiffness, muscle weakness or poor body mechanics. Your Physical Therapist will then tailor a rehabilitation program to fit your specific needs and goals. Your rehabilitation program will include:

• Rapid pain relief program
• Restoration of proper alignment to normalize weight bearing through the joints
• Patient education on how to limit the stress placed on your injured joint to relieve pain.
• Development of a home treatment program
• Joint and soft tissue mobilization to restore motion
• Strength training
• Stretching
• Transition to functional rehabilitation when ready
• Return to work or sport

If a joint replacement surgery cannot be avoided, working with a Physical Therapist at Westwood Physical Therapy prior to your surgery will help you maximize your strength before surgery and prepare you for what to expect after surgery.

Post Surgical Hip Replacement
A sound exercise program will increase the successful function of your new joint. Inadequate strength or range of motion after surgery may leave you with limited walking ability or residual pain. Progression of flexibility and strengthening exercises must take place according to guidelines determined by your specific procedure. Certain procedures require limitations in how much you will be allowed to bend your leg or how much weight you may place through your leg to allow healing to take place.

Physical therapy is necessary to help you regain range of motion of your new joint and safely strengthen the muscles of the leg, hip and trunk. Balance retraining will be incorporated into your rehab program to improve muscle coordination and movement patterns.  Post-surgical rehabilitation will also help minimize the effect scar tissue will have on your ability to move your leg.

At Westwood Physical Therapy, our Physical Therapists can help you recover faster and stronger after your total joint surgery. We spend one on one time with our patients ensuring that they are doing their exercises correctly and progressing their rehabilitation appropriately.