What To Expect From Physical Therapy For Hip Pain?

Hip discomfort can have a significant influence on your ability to complete everyday tasks and your general quality of life. Hip pain, whether caused by an acute accident or a chronic illness such as arthritis, causes reduced movement and discomfort. 

While medication and rest can provide some relief, physical therapy offers a more active approach to resolving the underlying issues and restoring normal hip function. 

If you’re dealing with hip injuries in Aurora, Illinois, you may be wondering what physical therapy can offer to alleviate your discomfort; here’s what you can expect from the process.

Evaluation of Your Hip

The first step in physical therapy for hip injuries is a thorough evaluation. Your physical therapist will take a close look at your hip’s range of motion and flexibility. They’ll assess your gait and watch you perform various movements that place stress on your hip joint, like walking, balancing, sitting, and standing. 

The main purpose is to detect any restrictions, deficiencies, or biomechanical issues that may be the cause of your discomfort.

A personalized treatment plan would be tailored to your personal needs once the therapists have a complete grasp of your condition. Physical Therapy Advantage understands that no two patients are identical, and your treatment plan will be tailored to reflect this.

Hands-On Techniques

You can expect very hands-on techniques during your physical therapy sessions. Your therapist may use massage or gentle joint mobilization to help relax the muscles around the hip area and improve mobility in the joint. 

They’ll also identify any soft tissue restrictions or trigger points that could be causing some of your pain and use techniques like myofascial release to alleviate those issues. The hands-on treatments aim to reduce pain and stiffness while enhancing the range of motion.

Targeted Stretching and Strengthening

Specific hip stretching and strengthening exercises will likely be a major component of your physical therapy Aurora IL program for hip injuries. Your therapist will teach you stretches to improve flexibility in the muscles surrounding the hip joint. 

Often, tightness in the hip flexors, hamstrings, piriformis, and IT band contribute to hip discomfort, so focusing on properly stretching these areas is key. They’ll also prescribe strengthening exercises using resistance bands, small weights, or your own body weight to stabilize the hip joint. A stronger core and glutes can take pressure off the hip joint during daily activities.

Functional Movement Training

Rather than just doing isolated exercises, your physical therapist will work on functional movements similar to your daily activities. 

For example, they may have you practice safe squat and bend techniques, sit-to-stand transitions, or lunges and side steps to mimic movements that usually aggravate your hip pain. 

The therapist will correct any biomechanical issues with these movements and teach you how to properly strengthen and stabilize your hip. The goal is to get your hip functioning properly for daily living.

Use of Modalities

Your therapist may use certain modalities as part of your treatment sessions, such as heat/ice therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or traction. These modalities can help relieve muscle tension and pain around the hip prior to doing stretches and exercises. 

The therapy modalities enhance blood flow and relaxation of the muscles to allow for greater benefit from the hands-on and active treatments. Your therapist will determine if any modalities could be helpful in reducing your hip discomfort.

Home Exercise Program

One of the key aspects of physical therapy is the prescribed home exercise program. Your physical therapist will give you a set of hip stretches, strengthening exercises, and functional activities to continue doing at home between sessions. 

Doing these regularly is vital to seeing progress in reducing your hip pain and improving mobility. The therapist may give you tools like resistance bands, weighted balls, etc., to assist with home exercises. 

Patient Education

Throughout your treatment, your physical therapist will provide education about your specific hip condition, causes of hip pain, how to avoid future injuries, proper body mechanics, and more. 

They’ll explain the reasoning behind the therapy techniques and give you tips on managing your discomfort at home, including medication, ice, assistive devices, etc. 

Your therapist would want to make sure you understand your hip issue and how to prevent problems down the road.

Conclusion

If you’re dealing with chronic or acute hip pain, know that physical therapy offers proven techniques to reduce your discomfort and get your hip joint moving properly again. 

The combination of hands-on treatment and prescribed exercises will improve mobility and function over time. Just be sure to communicate regularly with your therapist and follow their home program.

Contact Physical Therapy Advantage in Aurora if you want a personalized treatment plan for your hip discomfort. Their experienced physical therapists specialize in effective hip rehab to get you back to normal activity. With diligent therapy, you can expect less hip pain and more function.