Here’s What You Don’t Know About Finding Relief For Hip and Knee Pain

Your hips and knees are essential joints that work hard all day to give you the best possible function. They are common sources of pain and discomfort due to their complexity and constant use. As the cartilage in one’s joints begins to break down with age, the risk of experiencing chronic hip and knee pain rises. Anyone can acquire hip or knee discomfort due to excessive overuse, unanticipated traumas, or underlying disorders.

You may have been told that the only way to find relief from hip and knee pain is through expensive surgery. While surgery is sometimes needed to correct certain conditions in the hip or knee, physical therapy has been proven to succeed in significantly lowering pain and improving function.

In many cases, physical therapy can even eliminate the need for a surgical procedure. If you are living with hip and/or knee pain and you are looking for relief, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today to see how our services can benefit you!

Common causes of knee and hip pain

When you make an appointment with a physical therapist, you can expect a comprehensive examination as the first step. Our physical therapist will assess you to determine the location of the sore area and the source of the discomfort.

For example, discomfort in the hips can occasionally be felt in the lower back, buttocks, groin, or the front or side of the hips. Knee pain can also be felt on the front or rear of the knee joint. If there has been a trauma to the knee, it can also be felt on the inside of the knee or the outside of the knee if you have iliotibial band tension.

Hip pain is typically reported as a constant dull ache that doesn’t disappear. However, knee pain is a bit different and is often assessed as one of several different types of pain:

  • Chronic – Chronic pain can be defined as any pain that lasts longer than two or three months. If you’ve been living with serious knee pain for that long, you should consult your doctor. They will most likely suggest performing another full physical exam in addition to x-rays.
  • Acute – Acute pain is the most intense type of knee pain. It typically occurs after an injury and will last for about a week. The treatment for acute pain is generally just to simply rest and isolate the affected area, as your body is working hard to heal it.
  • Subacute – Pain that lasts two to six weeks after an injury is known as subacute pain. Although the affected area may still be uncomfortable, it will not be as bad as the first week. Gentle motions promote a better range of motion and aid healing in treating subacute knee pain.

Physical therapy techniques can help you find true relief

When you arrive for your initial consultation, your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the nature of your condition and the best steps for comfort. This evaluation will include:

  • Range of motion tests. Your physical therapist will test the limits of your knee or hip to see how far it will bend. This helps determine the severity of the trauma and will give your physical therapist insight into the course of treatment.
  • Palpation. Your physical therapist will gently palpate the knee or hip to determine where the pain originates.
  • Strength tests. Testing the strength of your knee and hip structures will give your physical therapist a better idea of whether your pain is due to an injury or a physical imbalance.
  • Gait analysis. Your physical therapist will assess how you walk to determine if anything is out of the ordinary with your gait.

Depending on your symptoms, your physical therapist may also perform balance tests to see if your balance has been affected. If any areas are inflamed, your physical therapist will focus closely on those areas. The test results will determine what methods will benefit your treatment plan.

Are you ready to feel better, faster?

Treatment plans will include targeted stretches and exercises to relieve pain and improve function in the affected hips or knees. Additional methods might be added as your physical therapist deems fit. Your progress will be closely tracked in order to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible.

If you are looking to relieve your hip and knee pains the natural way, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today. We’ll provide you with the treatment you need so you can get back on your feet!

Kick Chronic Hip and Knee Pain To The Curb

Hip and Knee pain is one of the most common forms of pain to develop with age. Whether as a result of wear and tear over time, or as a result of an injury that never healed correctly, joint pain can significantly interfere with your quality of life and ability to move around freely. Two of the most common places to develop joint pain is in the hips and knees.

If you’re dealing with nagging pain in your hips and knees, it’s time to take a stand and move forward from this problem, once and for all. Call our physical therapy clinic today to set up an appointment, and take your life back into your own hands!

Tired of coping with chronic hip and knee pain?

When you think about it, a majority of your daily comfort depends on your ability to move freely at your hips and knees. When joint pain strikes these areas, it can make it difficult to perform basic tasks like walking or transitioning between standing and sitting positions.

Joint pain in the hips and knees is frequently caused by problems with the muscles and tendons, and physical therapy can help to reduce inflammation in these areas, reducing pain and improving your quality of life by making it easier to move around.

Here are a few common strategies used in physical therapy that can help alleviate joint and hip pain:

  • Hot and cold therapy: This is a popular type of therapy that can be performed at home or under the supervision of a physical therapist. Ice is applied to the affected area to reduce swelling, and then heat is applied to increase mobility and relieve pain. Using these types of therapies in an alternating rotation can help you improve your mobility and decrease your pain.
  • Manual therapy: Manual therapy is a technique used by physical therapists to target specific areas of pain. These are hands-on techniques that can help you relieve pain in the areas where you’re having the most trouble. These strategies frequently include a combination of stretching exercises as well as massage therapy techniques. Your physical therapist may even recommend stretching techniques that you can do at home in some cases, but you should always consult with your physical therapist before trying anything new.
  • While some stretches can help alleviate pain, some stretches may put more pressure on your joints and therefore could actually worsen the pain. Always talk to your physical therapist before trying any new form of manual therapy.
  • Ultrasound therapy: In addition to these common types of therapeutic practices, physical therapists will frequently use enhanced imaging techniques to help identify the cause of a particular type of pain. These imaging techniques may include using tools like ultrasound therapy or laser therapy.

Your physical therapist will use an ultrasound device to identify problem areas while also providing deep heating within the tissues that are causing the pain during ultrasound therapy. The physical therapist will use lasers to increase circulation in the targeted area, target swelling, and improve cell growth and reproduction when laser therapy is used. These advanced techniques necessitate specialized equipment and can only be performed by a certified professional in an office setting.

Can I handle knee and hip pain at home?

Your physical therapist will assist you in determining what is causing your hips and knees to hurt and will provide you with targeted therapies to address the problem while you are in physical therapy.

While going to physical therapy on a regular basis can help you recover from an injury and manage chronic pain, doing these activities with your physical therapist just once or twice a week won’t make a significant difference in your pain.

Your physical therapist will show you exercises you can do at home to help with hip and knee pain. Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a larger home-workout program that becomes a regular part of your daily routine in many situations.

As you work to overcome knee and hip pain, your physical therapist may suggest that you try some of the following exercises:

  • Swimming
  • Aqua Aerobics
  • Biking
  • Elliptical training
  • Yoga

Other helpful forms of exercise to consider for chronic pain

Exercises that remove pressure from the joints while targeting the surrounding muscles to help improve strength are often ideal for reducing knee and hip pain.

Aqua exercises are ideal for this because they relieve a lot of the pressure from the joints while still allowing you to stretch and move freely, allowing you to improve your range of motion. Similarly, opting for exercises like biking or running on an elliptical machine instead of a treadmill can help you to get a great cardio workout without having to put pressure on your joints as you would if you were running or walking.

While yoga is a great exercise for improving range of motion and decreasing inflammation, stay mindful about what types of yoga poses you are doing! There are some poses that could put more pressure on your hips and knees, and so should be avoided when you are already experiencing pain in those areas.

The best practice is to consult with your physical therapist before beginning any new exercises and to follow your physical therapist’s recommendations for what types of activities you should do at home on a regular basis.

Call our clinic today for an appointment

When it comes to overcoming knee and hip pain, physical therapy can be extremely beneficial. Physical therapy can help you find relief from chronic pain that has developed slowly over time, whether you’ve developed pain as a result of an injury or are looking to finally find relief from chronic pain that has developed slowly over time.

To learn more about how physical therapy can help you and to get started, contact your physical therapist.

Physical Therapy: The Key to Overcoming Hip and Knee Pain

Do your weight-bearing joints feel more like pain-bearing joints these days? If you have a hip or knee that just can’t support your body weight without causing annoying aches or agonizing pains, you may be unable to perform your job, play sports, handle household tasks, or even find a comfortable sitting or sleeping position. These limitations and frustrations might have you gulping down painkiller or considering joint replacement surgery. Fortunately, many causes of hip and knee pain respond quite well to physical therapy — the natural approach to pain management.

Why Your Hip or Knee Hurts

Your hips and knees do a lot of work over the course of a lifetime. These joints must withstand the majority of your body weight — not just when you’re standing still, but also as you walk, run, climb or jump. It’s not surprising, then, that a variety of ailments and injuries can plague the knee and hip joints. Your pain and stiffness may be caused by:

  • Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage that normally keeps the bone ends in a joint from rubbing together. The resulting friction causes chronic pain and inflammation.
  • Bursitis – Both the hips and knees have fluid-filled sacs called bursae that prevent friction between bones and soft tissues. Unfortunately, these sacs can become inflamed from overuse, a painful condition called bursitis.
  • Strains, sprains and ruptures – The knee and hip joints can move thanks to muscles, tendons and ligaments. Repetitive motion or acute injuries can cause a strain (damage to muscles or tendons) or a sprain (hyperextension of a ligament). Athletes are vulnerable to ruptures of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
  • “Runner’s knee” – An unstable kneecap can lead to chronic knee pain. This condition is known as patellofemoral syndrome or “runner’s knee.”

Various health or lifestyle challenges can worsen a case of hip or knee pain. Carrying extra weight is a prime example. A musculoskeletal misalignment or postural imbalance can place unnatural stress on a hip or knee. Lack of exercise can allow the muscles to weaken, setting the stage for chronic strain and joint instability.

Banishing Pain and Optimizing Function through Physical Therapy Techniques

Getting relief from knee or hip pain doesn’t necessarily involve the use of heavy drugs such as opiates or procedures such as joint replacement surgery. Physical therapy can improve your joint function while also easing your pain and stiffness. Our physical therapist can prescribe exercises aimed at addressing your specific condition, such as:

  • Knee lifts
  • Hip rotations
  • Heel-to-buttock-exercises
  • Mini-squats
  • Hip flexion, extension or abductor exercises
  • Leg lifts
  • Hamstring curls
  • Step exercises

Even an activity as simple as walking to help preserve mobility and reduce pain in arthritic knees or hips. Our physical therapist may also recommend that you receive heat/ice therapy, ultrasound therapy, massage therapy, laser therapy, or orthotic footwear to help normalize your musculoskeletal balance.

Get a Leg Up on Your Pain Relief — Contact Our Physical Therapist Today

The sooner you seek physical therapy for knee or hip pain, the better. Research shows that patients who rehab their hip or knee pain with physical therapy within 15 days of symptom onset have less need for pain injections, medications or surgical intervention. But whatever stage of pain you’re in, it’s never too late to benefit from physical therapy. Contact Rehab Advantage to get started!

Are You Experiencing Hip or Knee Pain? Find Relief with Physical Therapy

Are you hobbling instead of walking these days? Do you fear that your active lifestyle is the thing of the past? Do your hips and knees simply refuse to do their jobs without causing you intense pain? If your quality of life has been drastically reduced by knee pain and/or hip pain, you may be looking for a path to relief that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. Physical therapy is a conservative approach can that not only ease your hip or knee but also improve the function of these critical weight-bearing joints. You can learn more by contacting Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine today!

Understanding Hip and Knee Pain

Your hip and knee joints have a tough job to do. The hips must bear the entire weight of your upper body, while your knees must bear all of that weight plus the weight of the hips and thighs. At the same time, these joints must be able to flex so that you can walk, run, dance, sit, play sports, and perform other everyday tasks without losing your balance. It’s not hard to understand how these demands can produce chronic hip or knee pain over time. Hip or knee pain can also come about quite suddenly (and intensely) in response to an acute injury.

Causes and Symptoms of Hip and Knee Pain

Hip and knee pain can be caused by a great number of problems. Some of these are related to musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight; others occur as the result of natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain may stem from:

  • Osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory condition involving deteriorated joint cartilage
  • Postural/alignment issues that throw your body off balance, straining the knees or hips
  • Bursitis, an inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs surround the joints
  • Tendinitis or stretched ligaments
  • Runner’s knee, an instability of the kneecap
  • Infections
  • Traumatic injuries such as dislocation of the joint

Our physical therapist can often tell the cause of your hip or knee pain from its location. For example, pain along the inside of the hip is more likely to be caused by a problem with the bones or cartilage. Pain along the outer side is typically caused by a problem in the muscles, tendons or ligaments.

How Physical Therapy Helps Hip and Knee Pain

Once our physical therapist has isolated the underlying cause of your hip or knee pain, we can prescribe techniques to help you start feeling — and moving — more like your old self. Physical therapy for hip or knee pain may start with passive exercises, in which we move the afflicted joint for you to increase its pain-free range of motion. Exercises that reduce the amount of weight on the joints can also be extremely helpful. For instance, we may recommend swimming or water walking as a means of exercising the hips and knees without also forcing them to bear your full weight.

Other types of exercises can also help you overcome your hip or knee pain while improving joint function. Strengthening exercises help by reinforcing the muscles and connective tissues that serve the joint. Corrective exercises and neuromuscular re-education can help you maintain a straighter, more symmetrical posture.

Last but not least, physical therapy offers a variety of helpful modalities beyond exercise. We may treat your joint pain with heat, ice, and manual therapies such as massage, just to name a few.

Are you ready to reclaim your pain-free mobility through physical therapy? Contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine for an appointment!

Ending Your Hip and Knee Pain, Once and For All

The hips and knees are both areas in the body where several tendons, muscles, and joints are joined together, in order to help you achieve complex movement. If there is damage (and subsequent pain) in these areas, it can be difficult to perform daily activities. Fortunately, there are several specific ways that physical therapy can help in ending your hip and knee pain, once and for all. Contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine today to find out how a trained physical therapist can help you relieve your pain.

What’s causing my hip and knee pain?

There are several specific conditions that often affect the knees and hips. These can occur due to repetitive motion, traumatic injury, or chronic disease. The most common conditions causing hip and knee pain include:

  • Sprains and strains. Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, while strains occur when a muscle or tendon is beyond its limits. It is also possible for ligaments to rupture, which can cause pain, bruising, and limited mobility. A physical therapist can help you recover quickly while showing you exercise techniques to reduce pain.
  • Bursitis. Bursitis occurs when a small sac of fluid, known as the “bursa,” becomes inflamed. This is often caused by overuse or repetitive injuries. Bursitis can occur in a variety of locations in the body, including the hips and knees. Physical therapy can aid in recovery and the reduction of pain.
  • Arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that results in the inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints. This condition can cause knee and hip pain if it develops in those joints. A physical therapist can teach you correct posture and proper movement techniques to protect your joints and relieve arthritic pains.
  • Meniscus tears. This is one of the most common knee injuries that people experience. A torn meniscus can cause mild to severe pain, swelling, and stiffness. This condition can occur as the result of either a sudden injury or repetitive motions. You’re at a higher risk of sustaining a meniscus tear if you’re engaging in a sport or hobby that requires aggressive pivoting and twisting of your legs. A physical therapist can provide non-surgical treatment for a torn meniscus.

How can physical therapy provide relief?

No matter what condition is causing your hip and knee pain, a physical therapy program can help relieve your pain. Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and create an individualized treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Range of motion and strength measurements may be taken during the physical therapy evaluation. There are several treatment methods a physical therapist may use to help limit or relieve both knee and hip pain, including:

  • Ice and heat therapies. Ice is typically used to reduce swelling and inflammation, while heat is typically used to increase mobility and lessen pain.
  • Manual therapy. A physical therapist might use hands-on techniques to reduce pain in your hips and knees, including stretching exercises or a variety of massage techniques.
  • Laser therapy. Laser therapy is increasingly being used in physical therapy for pain management. It can help increase circulation, reduce swelling, and improve the growth and reproduction of cells.
  • Ultrasound therapy. A physical therapist may use ultrasound to provide deep heating in the tissues and identify any problem areas.
  • Home exercises. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to do at home, in order to alleviate your hip and knee pain. Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.

Contact us today:

Physical therapy treatments will be able to help you remain as pain-free and active as possible. One of our highly-trained physical therapists will create a customized treatment plan for you, in order to treat your particular condition.

Contact our office today to schedule an evaluation with an experienced physical therapist. And find out how physical therapy can reduce or even eliminate your hip and knee pain!