There are so many causes of hip and knee pain, from excess weight to sports injuries, advancing age to repetitive motion injuries. Whatever the cause of your hip and/or knee pain, if you are experiencing it regularly you need to find a way to manage it.
Many people use medications like anti-inflammatories to minimize their discomfort. However, these medications do have potential side effects, so it can be helpful to find other ways to relieve your pain. There are plenty of other natural, effective ways to manage your pain! Physical therapy may be the solution you are looking for.
To set up a consultation,call Richmond Physical Therapy today.
What’s causing my hip and knee pain?
Knee pain can be caused by a wide variety of injuries and diseases. It can be the result of auto accidents, recreational activities, sports, or a slip and fall. The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Overuse
- Ligament strains and sprains
- Anterior injuries
- Fractures around the knee
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
In addition to causing pain, knee pain can affect mobility, reduce strength and affect muscle control.
Problems with the hip joint can result in pain in the groin or inside the hip. When the pain is on the outside of the hip, it’s typically due to issues with tendons, muscles, and ligaments that surround the hip joint. Hip pain can also be due to:
- Sciatica
- Sprains
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Bursitis
- Hip fracture
Physical therapy: a holistic pain reliever
If your doctor has told you to take pain relievers every day for your hip and/or knee pain, you should follow your doctor’s orders. However, it doesn’t hurt to ask about alternatives to pain medication, such as physical therapy.
Working with a physical therapist daily can help reduce or eliminate your pain in a variety of ways, including:
- Ice and heat therapy. Ice can also be used to lessen pain from your hip and/or knee as well as to reduce inflammation. Heat can be used to improve your mobility and decrease the amount of pain you are experiencing so that you can move more freely.
- Exercises to increase your strength. Loss of muscular strength can contribute significantly to hip and knee pain because the weaker your muscles get, the more stress is put on your joints. Physical therapy centers around specific exercises designed to target various muscles and strengthen them so that they better support your joints.
- Exercises to improve mobility and flexibility. Physical therapists can take you through exercises to improve your mobility and flexibility so that you can move your limbs and joints in the fullest range of motion that is available based on your body and circumstances. Often hip and knee pain can lead to loss of mobility and flexibility – which then increases the wear on your joints and leads to even more pain.
- Identify the causes of your hip and knee pain. There may be one or several reasons why you are experiencing hip and knee pain. A physical therapist can examine your movement to help identify things that are contributing to your pain, such as poor posture, unhealthy walking patterns, or unhealthy movement patterns at work. Once they identify these kinds of issues, physical therapists can tell you how to correct them.
- Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound is used by physical therapists to apply heat deeper into your soft tissues to provide pain relief. The heat can improve circulation and aid in healing, which can ultimately reduce the pain you experience day today.
How does physical therapy work to relieve pain?
The various exercises and treatments physical therapists use with you will steadily improve your condition so that you experience less pain daily. As your body gets stronger and more mobile, you are likely to experience less pain in your hips and knees.
Now, you might be thinking, “It’s nice to get pain relief at the physical therapist’s office, but what about when I go home? Am I going to be in pain again?” A major goal of your physical therapist is to heal your injuries over the long term — they want to help your condition not only improve but also prevent it from coming back in the future. They can teach you ways to ease your pain on your own at home as well so that you can manage your condition as it heals.
Should I stop using over the counter medications?
If your doctor has prescribed you pain relievers it is best to follow the guidance of your doctor. However, you are welcome to discuss physical therapy with your doctor as well. If you find that your pain level has decreased through physical therapy, you can discuss reducing your pain reliever usage with your doctor.
Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist for your hip and knee pain. We are standing by to assist you!
