Hip and Knee Pain
Don’t Let Hip and Knee Pain Slow You Down!
Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Hip and Knee Function
Do you sometimes worry that your knees are going to “give out” from under you while you’re standing up? Do you dread lying down at night or getting up in the morning because of pain in your hips? Know that you aren’t alone — hip and knee pain are very common conditions!
Hip joint pain and knee pain can seriously interfere with your life, especially if you are dealing with both simultaneously. It can feel like there’s no answer to your pain besides over-the-counter medications.
Whether you’re experiencing hip pain, knee pain, or both, physical therapy can help get to the root of your problem safely and comfortably, without the need for harmful drugs or surgery. Request an appointment at Zionsville Physical Therapy today to get back to living a healthy, active lifestyle once more.
Why Hip and Knee Pain Occurs and How They are Connected
Oftentimes when we are in pain and go to our medical provider to find out what the problem is, we’re shocked to hear that the area we’re experiencing pain is actually not the true cause for concern. That’s because all of our body parts are connected and work together to keep us going. Many times, if your knee is hurting you, your hip is weak in the gluteals, creating a force that your knee should not have on it.
Pain felt in the hips and/or knees may originate in the joints themselves, but it may also be a result of an underlying condition in another part of the body, such as the spine or the pelvis.
Your hips are ball-and-socket joints that move in several directions to give us support and agility. Strains to the muscles, or to the joints themselves can be quite painful. Pain on the sides of the hips can indicate bursitis, causing pain when lying on your side. Wear and tear to the cartilage can indicate degenerative changes, the beginning of osteoarthritis.
Your knee is a hinge joint, with a knee cap, or patella, assisting in creating strength and force for the strong muscles surrounding the knee. There are ligaments that support your knee, which are susceptible to tears and strains especially if you jump, land on uneven surfaces, twist or fall. Injuries to the collateral ligaments, cruciate ligaments, meniscus pads between the bones, and plica can lead to pain and may require physical therapy, and possibly injections or surgical interventions.
The hips, knees, ankles and feet are part of the same kinetic chain, meaning they make up a combination of weight-bearing joints that must function together in harmony in order for the body to function properly. If one part of the chain is weak, broken or not working well, this can lead to problems in all or some of the other links in the chain. Getting help with recovering one joint may save you time and money from stressing and hurting the other parts of your body.
Why am I experiencing hip and knee pain?
There are many reasons why hip and knee pain can occur. The most common are osteoarthritis and injury due to sport, exercise or work.
Overuse injuries such as tendinitis and chronic muscle strain are common in both the hips and knees because both joints are constantly in use. They are also both subject to acute injuries, such as sprains, strains, and dislocation.
Some painful conditions may be specific to one joint or the other. Cartilage injuries known as labral tears can occur in the hip, and meniscus tears can occur in the knee joints. Bursitis can occur near the hip or the knee, often on the sides of the joints, where these protective “sacs” help lubricate the regions for movement. Imbalances in the muscles of the hips can also affect the knees. Tight hip flexor muscles and weak gluteus medius muscles can cause the hip to rotate inward without you realizing it. This can cause painful problems such as iliotibial band friction syndrome or patellofemoral stress syndrome, as stress is put on the knee or kneecap.
Although all of these reasons are plausible, the best way to know the true reason behind your hip or knee pain is to see a licensed physical therapist for a thorough evaluation of your condition.
Physical therapy for hip and knee pain
You don’t have to let hip and knee pain slow you down. Physical therapy can help.
Physical therapy treatments at Zionsville Physical Therapy can help to decrease, and in some cases, even eliminate, your hip and knee pain. This can save you from undergoing expensive, painful surgery!
At your first appointment, one of our Zionsville physical therapists will examine your hip and/or knee for signs of misalignment or structural damage, in addition to examining your stance, posture, strength, gait, and range of motion.
Next, after your physical exam is complete, our physical therapists will prescribe a physical therapy treatment plan for you, aimed at relieving unnatural stresses and strains. They will also focus on improving your overall joint function so you can get back to living life comfortably.
You will be given targeted exercises designed for relieving joint pain and stabilizing the weak hip and/or knee tissues. The exercises may vary depending on your condition; for example, research has demonstrated that those suffering from patello-femoral pain tend to respond better to exercises that focus on strengthening both the hips and knees, rather than just focusing on the knees alone.
You may also be given core strengthening exercises that can also improve your back muscle groups, lower abdominal muscle groups, or pelvic muscles. Core exercises are aimed at straightening your posture and equalizing the weight load on both sides of your body and helping your balance.
As our therapists see fit, there may be additional specialized treatments added to your recovery plan, such as mobilizations to improve joint movement or other soft tissue treatments that relieve pain, reduce swelling and promote the healing of damaged hip and/or knee tissues.
Say “no” to hip and knee pain!
It is time to take a stand against your hip and knee pain – get started on the path toward long-lasting pain relief today! Your hips and knees will be glad you did.
Contact or book your appointment at Zionsville Physical Therapy today to speak with one of our dedicated Zionsville physical therapists. You’re in good hands here!