Overcoming Hip Pain: Find Relief and Resume Your Active Lifestyle
Don’t Let Persistent Hip Pain Keep You Down!
Do you experience pain in your hips while enjoying leisurely walks, climbing stairs, or bending down? Hip pain can significantly limit your ability to perform and enjoy daily activities. Fortunately, treatment with physical therapy can help you find relief and get back to doing what you love!
Understanding Your Hip Joints
Your hips are ball-and-socket joints, where your femur (thigh bone) fits into your pelvis (hip socket). A cushion of cartilage in your hips prevents friction as your hip bone moves within the socket. Pain can occur if this cartilage wears down or is damaged due to age, injury, or overuse.
There are several reasons why you may be experiencing hip pain:
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of hip pain, particularly in older adults. It occurs when the protective cartilage in the hip joint wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
Tears and Ruptures
Ligaments and cartilage in the hips can tear due to injury or overuse, causing pain and instability.
Bursitis
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion between the bones, tendons, and muscles near the hip. Bursitis, or inflammation of these sacs, can cause pain and tenderness in the hip.
Strains
Sudden or repetitive activities can strain or inflame the muscles and tendons around the hip joint, resulting in pain.
Additional causes of hip pain include fractures, dislocations, and certain diseases. If you experience sudden or severe hip pain, especially after an injury, it is important to contact our office for evaluation as soon as possible.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for hip pain. Our PTs are movement experts who will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the underlying causes of your pain.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Pain Relief
Specialized techniques, such as manual therapy, joint mobilizations, and soft tissue techniques, can help improve blood flow, free up tension or restriction in movement, and reduce pain in the affected areas.
Mobility Work
Prescribed exercises to improve movement and range of motion in the hip joint.
Strengthening Exercises
Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, providing support and stability for a successful recovery.
Personalized Hip Pain Relief
A retired teacher sought help at our clinic due to persistent hip pain that had gradually worsened over the past year. The pain was most noticeable when standing up from a seated position, during walks with her dog, and at night while trying to sleep. She had tried over-the-counter pain medication, heat therapy, and rest but found minimal relief.
During her evaluation, our physical therapists observed limited range of motion in her hip and noted weakness in the surrounding muscles. After a comprehensive assessment, she was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis, a common condition associated with aging and wear and tear on the joint.
Our PTs created a tailored treatment plan for her that focused on pain management, improving hip mobility, and strengthening the supporting muscles. Targeted manual therapy techniques were utilized to reduce pain and stiffness, while prescribed exercises aimed to increase her range of motion and improve overall hip function. We also provided her with education on proper body mechanics and strategies for managing daily activities.
After attending every physical therapy session and following exercise instructions in between, she experienced significant improvement in her hip pain and mobility. She was able to resume her daily walks with her dog, enjoy gardening without discomfort, and sleep soundly through the night.
Book an Appointment at IMG Physical Therapy Today!
At IMG Physical Therapy, we will perform a comprehensive health assessment and analyze your hip pain and condition. Then, we’ll design a personalized program to help you recover with strength and confidence.
Don’t let hip pain hold you back. Call us today to schedule your first appointment!
Fall is coming:
Hello all. I hope you had a great summer. I cannot believe that another school year has already started. When I was young (a long time ago…in a galaxy far away) school didn’t start until September. It seems like it is starting earlier every year. Personally, I think it makes some sense. School sports and activities start in the 3rd week of August. Might as well start classes and then get out of school early at the end of the year when everyone is ready for summer to begin. My niece and nephew live in Australia and they go to school year-round. They go to school the same amount of days (around 180), but logically it makes more sense. They get off 6 weeks for Christmas (their summer break), 2 weeks for their spring and fall breaks, and another 4 weeks off after their winter quarter. The children and the teachers do not burn out and they don’t have to spend weeks relearning what was taught the year before. We are a culture that is not used to change, but the time may be coming soon where year-round school starts making sense for many. Speaking of changing our thoughts about something…
In this month’s newsletter we would like to talk about hip related issues. A quick anatomy lesson: Your hip joint is located in the groin region of your body. The big bump on the outside of your leg that everyone calls your “hip” is actually known as your greater trochanter. If you have pain in that region, we usually consider that a back problem. However, it could be something known as hip trochanteric bursitis. No matter what the problem actually is, a comprehensive consultation can help provide answers and solutions. Even if you do have groin pain and it is your hip, laser treatments and hip mobilizations are often effective in helping to decrease your pain and getting you back to your normal activities.
Hopefully we are blessed with some of the amazing fall weather this year. Not a year where we go straight from high 80s to the 40s in a week. It would be nice to see the beautiful fall foliage on the mountains. Go out for a hike. Pick some apples. Breathe in the crisp morning air. Root for your college and pro-football team. Escape to the mountains or beach while the weather is still nice and the crowds are gone with children returning to school and fall sports. Do not let hip and back pain limit such a great time of the year. Before you know it, the fall holidays will be starting!!!
Prehab and Rehab for Hip Surgery Success
Did you know that physical therapy is an important part of both the preparation for and recovery from hip replacement surgery? Prehabilitation, or “prehab,” focuses on strengthening the muscles around the hip joint and improving mobility to set you up for a faster and smoother recovery.
Prehabilitation
Prehab exercises may include:
- Targeted stretching and range-of-motion exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Gait training and balance activities
Patients may also learn how to use assistive devices like walkers or crutches, as well as practice post-surgery movements like getting in and out of bed or a chair.
Rehabilitation
Rehab begins almost immediately after surgery, with exercises becoming more challenging as the patient heals.
- Early mobilization is key to prevent complications and promote healing
- Prescribed Exercises
- Manage pain
- Help prevent blood clots
- Regain mobility and strength
The duration and intensity of both prehab and rehab vary depending on individual factors such as age, overall health, and the specific surgical approach. However, both are integral components of a successful hip replacement journey by contributing to improved outcomes, reduced pain, and a faster return to normal activities.
Prepare and Recover From Hip Surgery with IMG Physical Therapy
If you’re planning for hip surgery, or contemplating it down the road, contact us today to learn how our prehab and rehab programs can set you up for success. We’ll answer any questions you have and talk about what to expect at every stage. Call today!
September 2026 Events
Exercise of the Month
Hamstring Stretch (Hamstrings, Low Back)
Sit on the floor with legs extended straight in front of you. Loop an exercise band around the ball of your foot and gently pull back on the band while keeping your back straight. You should feel a stretch in the back of your thigh. Hold, then switch sides. 3 Sets, 30-Second Hold (each leg). (Materials needed: exercise band, floor mat)
10-Minute Sausage Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccolini
This one-pan dinner has a nice buttery sauce, so serve it with some crusty bread for mopping.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces fully cooked Italian sausage (about 4 links), sliced into 1/4″-thick coins
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or finely chopped
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 2 bunches broccolini (about 1 pound), trimmed, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- Crusty bread (for serving; optional)
Instructions:
- Step 1: Cook the base. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, garlic, and thyme, stir to combine, and cook, pressing down on some of the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to encourage bursting, 2 minutes. Add broccolini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted.
- Step 2: Serve. Divide sausage mixture among plates. Serve with bread alongside, if desired.
Patient Spotlight
“Had issues with pain and stiffness in my right hip. I had restricted flexibility in my right leg, difficulty getting in the car, in the shower, putting pants and shoes on. I had lots of pain and swelling in my hip after long hikes. My goals were to reduce pain during physical activities, improve flexibility in my right hip and leg, and to learn exercises that can help me relieve issues that arise in the future. I have achieved all of my goals after having completed physical therapy.” K. S.
Call Us Today
No matter your specific needs, IMG PT is here to help you manage your symptoms. From personalized guidance to targeted exercise programs, we’ll find solutions that work for you.
Call us to schedule your initial consultation.
