Hip Pain

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Resources and Information

Hip Pain Symptoms

The location and severity of hip pain can vary, depending on the cause of the problem.
Signs and symptoms that sometimes accompany hip pain are:

Thigh, back, or groin pain
Achy or stiff feeling
A locking or catching sensation in the hip joint
Limited range of motion in the hip
Leg numbness

Common Hip Injuries and Conditions

How Will My Hip Pain Be Diagnosed?

Your physical therapist will perform an evaluation that will start with discussing your medical history and your symptoms. Your therapist will ask questions to determine where your pain is located and may perform a gait evaluation, palpitation of the hip for structural issues, range of motion measurements, strength measurements, and functional mobility test. These tests will help your therapist develop a treatment plan to relieve your hip pain.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Me?

Pain management

Your physical therapist may provide treatments using different “modalities” such as ice, heat, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation to help decrease pain and swelling.

Manual therapy

Your therapist will apply manual (hands-on) therapy to gently guide movement of the knee area to restore joint and tissue mobility.

Therapeutic exercises

Your physical therapist will prescribe specific strengthening, flexibility, and endurance exercises to address your specific needs and goals.

Functional exercises

You will learn individualized exercises designed to help you return to your home, work, and sport activities. These also may include balance and coordination exercises.

Self-care instruction

Your physical therapist will teach you ways to manage your pain at home, and design a safe and effective home-exercise program based on your specific condition, which you can continue long after your formal physical therapy sessions have ended. You also will learn how to avoid placing unnecessary forces on the knee during your daily activities for years to come.