Hip and knee pain are some of the most common types of pain people deal with – they are some of the top pains listed on the Centers for Disease Control surveys of adults reporting joint pain. So if you are struggling with hip and knee pain, you are definitely not alone. Whether your knee hurts, your hip hurts, or you are struggling with pain in both joints, you are well aware of the fact that such pain can make it much harder to live the life you prefer. Fortunately, physical therapy can do a lot to alleviate that pain.
Physical Therapy – What it Can Do for Your Hip and Knee Pain
Physical therapists are trained to help people in situations like yours regain functionality and mobility – and to help lessen the pain experienced from various injuries and illnesses. They are extremely knowledgeable about the causes of hip pain and knee pain, and they know a wide variety of treatment methods to provide relief from these types of pain.
Identifying What Causes the Pain
Your physical therapist will do a number of things to identify the source of your pain, including:
Examining Your Gait
The way you walk can tell a physical therapist a lot about your condition and its causes. They will ask you to walk a short distance and notice the different indicators of gait issues. You may not be aware of the various signs you show as you walk, but your physical therapist will definitely notice them.
Feel for Abnormalities
Physical therapists use a technique called palpation to feel around your joints to identify potential problems. They can feel if something is out of place. The pressure they apply will also show them if you feel sensitive to the touch anywhere around the joint.
Check Your Strength and Range of Motion
You may feel relatively strong in your legs and hips, but there are a lot of small muscles that could be weaker than you realize. The physical therapist will take you through some different exercises to find any weaknesses that could be contributing to your pain. You will also go through range of motion exercises to see how far you can comfortably move your joints.
Providing Relief for Your Pain
Once the cause has been identified it is time for treatment. There are several different things a physical therapist might do to treat your pain, including:
Physical Therapy Exercises
The exercises that your physical therapist prescribes for your hip and knee pain will be customized to your circumstances. One person’s knee pain can have a different cause than another person’s knee pain, so it is important to apply the right exercises for each individual’s needs.
You will first go through your physical therapy exercises under the guidance of the physical therapist. They want to make sure that you are able to do the exercises safely – and you may need assistance to get through them at first. Eventually, you may be assigned exercises to do at home on your own.
The exercises will be designed to make you stronger and improve your range of motion. Eventually, they will help you better support your hip and/or knee so that you experience less pain.
Heat and Cold
Your physical therapist may use heat and/or ice to help reduce inflammation and pain.
Movement Education
Your physical therapist may help you learn new ways to move so that you avoid injuring your joints in the future.
Get Hip and Pain Relief Now
If you are experiencing hip and knee pain, please contact Back to Work Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist.
