Putting An End to Your Hip and Knee Pain Naturally

To aid in complex movement, the hips and knees have a multitude of tendons, muscles, and joints linked together. It can be tough to perform daily tasks if you have an injury (and consequent discomfort) in a specific location.

Physical therapy, fortunately, can assist you in a variety of methods in permanently resolving your hip and knee pain. To learn more about how a qualified physical therapist may help you manage your pain, call our office GoodLife Physical Therapy right now.

Common causes of hip and knee pain include

The knees and hips are frequently affected by a variety of disorders. Repetitive motion, acute damage, or chronic disease can all cause these problems. The following are the most common causes of hip and knee pain:

  • Meniscus tears. One of the most frequent knee injuries is patellar tendonitis. A torn meniscus can cause pain, edema, and stiffness ranging from minor to severe. This syndrome can develop as a result of a sudden injury or repeated motions. If you participate in a sport or pastime that requires a lot of turning and twisting of your legs, you’re more likely to tear your meniscus. A torn meniscus can be treated non-surgically by a physical therapist.
  • Bursitis. Bursitis occurs when a small sac of fluid, known as the “bursa,” becomes inflamed. This is often caused by overuse or repetitive injuries. Bursitis can occur in a variety of locations in the body, including the hips and knees. Physical therapy can aid in recovery and the reduction of pain.
  • Arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that results in the inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints. This condition can cause knee and hip pain if it develops in those joints. A physical therapist can teach you correct posture and proper movement techniques to protect your joints and relieve arthritic pains.
  • Sprains and strains. Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, while strains occur when a muscle or tendon is beyond its limits. It is also possible for ligaments to rupture, which can cause pain, bruising, and limited mobility. A physical therapist can help you recover quickly while showing you exercise techniques to reduce pain.

How can physical therapy provide relief?

No matter what condition is causing your hip and knee pain, a physical therapy program can help relieve your pain. There are several treatment methods a physical therapist may use to help limit or relieve both knee and hip pain, including:

  • Ultrasound therapy. A physical therapist may use ultrasound to provide deep heating in the tissues and identify any problem areas.
  • Manual therapy. A physical therapist might use hands-on techniques to reduce pain in your hips and knees, including stretching exercises or a variety of massage techniques.
  • Laser therapy. Laser therapy is increasingly being used in physical therapy for pain management. It can help increase circulation, reduce swelling, and improve the growth and reproduction of cells.
  • Home exercises. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to do at home, in order to alleviate your hip and knee pain. Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.
  • Ice and heat therapies. Ice is typically used to reduce swelling and inflammation, while heat is typically used to increase mobility and lessen pain.

Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and create an individualized treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Range of motion and strength measurements may be taken during the physical therapy evaluation.

Make an appointment with us today

Physical therapy treatments can help you stay as active and pain-free as possible. To cure your specific ailment, one of our highly-trained physical therapists will build a personalized treatment plan for you.

To schedule an evaluation with a skilled physical therapist, call our office today. Also, learn how physical therapy can help you get rid of your hip and knee discomfort!

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Hip and Knee Pains Got You Down? Here’s A Safe Solution!

Request an appointment with a physical therapist today to find pain relief.

Hip and knee discomfort can be caused by a variety of factors, including excess weight, sports injuries, advanced age, and repetitive motion injuries.

Whatever the reason for your hip and/or knee pain, you must find a strategy to manage it if you are suffering it regularly!

Typically, people lean on anti-inflammatories and other drugs to alleviate pain. However, because these medications can have adverse side effects, it’s a good idea to look for different ways to ease your pain.

The good news is  GoodLife Physical Therapy in EVERGREEN PARK’s physical therapy clinic could hold the solution you’ve been searching for. Call us today to learn more and schedule your appointment with one of our skilled therapists!

How can physical therapy help with hip and knee pain?

You may get pain relief when you are at the physical therapist and going through treatment, but what about when you go home?

Your physical therapist’s main purpose is to help you heal your injuries over time. The different workouts and therapies they utilize with you will gradually improve your condition, allowing you to live a life free of discomfort.

Your hips and knees are likely to become less painful as your body becomes stronger and more mobile.

What to expect with physical therapy treatment

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 recommendations. But it also cannot hurt to ask about alternatives like physical therapy!

Working with a physical therapist can help reduce or eliminate your pain in a variety of ways, including:

  • Heat and ice therapy. Heat can help you move more freely by improving your mobility and reducing the amount of pain you’re experiencing. Ice can also be used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in your hip and/or knee.
  • Identify the causes of your hip and knee pain. Hip and knee discomfort can be caused by a variety of factors. A physical therapist can check your movement to see whether anything is contributing to your pain, such as bad posture, bad walking patterns, or bad job movement patterns. Physical therapists can inform you how to fix these problems once they’ve been identified.
  • Ultrasound therapy. Physical therapists utilize ultrasound to apply heat deeper in your soft tissues to relieve pain. The heat helps promote circulation and aid in healing, which might help you feel less pain on a daily basis.
  • 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. 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. Physical therapists can guide you through exercises to enhance your mobility and flexibility, allowing you to move your limbs and joints through the full range of motion that your body and circumstances allow.

Evidence supporting physical therapy for hip and knee pain

Physical therapy has been proven as one of the most effective treatment methods for knee and hip injuries. This has been demonstrated through several research-based studies, including a 2014 study published by the Journal of American Medical Association.

The study, titled “Effect of a Home-Based Exercise Program on Functional Recovery Following Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture,” focuses on the benefits of exercise programs for those recovering from hip fractures. In this study, patients were split into two groups.

The intervention group received “functionally oriented exercises (such as standing from a chair, climbing a step) taught by a physical therapist and performed independently by the participants in their homes for six months,” while the other group simply received education on cardiovascular nutrition and recovery.

Results from this study concluded that those participating in the in-home physical therapy exercise programs demonstrated “modest improvement in physical function at six months after randomization.”

Our licensed physical therapists are movement experts. They will analyze how you walk in order to determine any abnormalities and to pinpoint stiff or weak muscles. By pinpointing the exact areas of your body that are not moving as they should, they are able to create a treatment plan that will improve your strength, coordination, and overall mobility.

Request an appointment with us today!

Restoring normal motion is a key aspect to alleviating pain and allowing you to safely partake in the activities you love. Our dedicated team can help you walk, run, and play better. With our motion analysis, strength testing, coordination testing, and more, we can spot your muscles and joints that are in need of treatment.

Your treatment plan will be individualized, based on your specific needs, in order to help you reach your optimum function with the least amount of effort.

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!

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What’s At The Root of Your Hip and Knee Pain?

Physical therapy could help you find the answer!

The knees and hips are important, complex areas of the body. There are several tendons, joints, and muscles that are joined together in these parts of your body, and they help you to move in normal ways. However, if these areas are damaged at all, or if you’re feeling pain in them, it can become very difficult to do the things you normally do.

Are you struggling with debilitating or uncomfortable pain in your knees or hips? You’re not the only one. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, knee pain is a common condition resulting in 19.4 million pain-related visits to a physician’s office each year!

Thankfully, physical therapy can help relieve knee and hip pain! Call our office GoodLife Physical Therapy to learn more about how a trained physical therapist can help give you the long-o pain relief you deserve.

Common pain conditions affecting the knees and hips

The movement of your knees and hips might be hampered by a variety of problems. Traumatic injury, chronic disease, or repeated motions performed as part of a work, sport, or hobby can all create these problems.

  • Strains and sprains – Strains and sprains are common ailments that occur in a variety of ways. When a muscle or tendon is overstretched or ruptured, a strain occurs. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched or torn. Ligaments can even rupture, resulting in bruising, mobility restrictions, and pain.
    A physical therapist can demonstrate activities that will aid with your recovery. They can also teach you how to move in order to avoid further injury or suffering.
  • Bursitis – Bursitis is a painful inflammation of a tiny sac of fluid called the “bursa.” This, like many other conditions, is caused by overuse or repetitive injuries. Bursitis can affect the elbows, knees,, and hips, among other places on the body. Physical therapy can aid with bursitis pain relief and speed up recovery times.
  • Arthritis – Arthritis, also known as “osteoarthritis,” is a disease in which the tissues around the joints become inflamed and irritated. I This illness can cause discomfort in your hands, knees, and hips, among other sites on your body. A physical therapist can educate you how to maintain healthy posture and movement patterns to protect your joints and keep your arthritis from taking over your daily activities.
  • Tears in the meniscus – Meniscus tears are unfortunately one of the most common types of knee injury. Swelling, stiffness, and varied degrees of discomfort are all symptoms of this injury. If you’re doing a lot of hard pivoting and twisting with your legs, you’re more likely to get this energy. Athletes frequently cry as a result of this. Without surgery, a physical therapist can treat a torn meniscus in a safe and effective manner.

Finding true pain relief with physical therapy

Your discomfort may seem overwhelming, but a physical therapist can help you lessen it no matter what illness you’re living with!

Your mobility specialist will evaluate your health, medical history, and pain levels in order to design a customized program that matches your specific requirements. Continue reading to learn more about how a physical therapist can help you lessen and relieve hip and knee pain.

  • Ice & Heat – A physical therapist may use ice packs to reduce swelling and inflammation. Heat is also commonly used during physical therapy to help increase mobility and reduce pain.
  • Manual Physical Therapy – Hands-on techniques are used often in physical therapy to reduce pain in your hips and knees. This could include stretching exercises or a variety of massage techniques.
  • Laser Therapy – Laser therapy has become much more popular in physical therapy for pain management. It can help improve the growth and reproduction of cells, increase circulation, and also reduce inflammation.
  • Ultrasound Therapy – Ultrasound therapy can be used in physical therapy to provide soothing heat to deep tissues. A licensed physical therapist can also utilize ultrasound technology to easily identify specific areas of pain.
  • At-Home Exercises – Did you know you don’t always have to be in a clinical setting to do physical therapy exercises? It’s true! Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.

Your battle with pain is over

Your physical therapist may examine your entire body, diagnose the painful places in your hips and knees, and design a treatment plan just for you.

You have the right to return to the activities you enjoy without fear of your hips and knees limiting you. So, what are you waiting for? Get comfort from one of our highly skilled physical therapists!

Contact GoodLife Physical Therapy to schedule your one-on-one evaluation today, and get back on the road to recovery.

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Consult with a Physical Therapist to Find Relief for Your Hip and Knee Pains

Looking for Relief? Physical Therapy Has You Covered

Does nagging hip and knee pain keep you from completing everyday tasks with ease? If you’ve been living with chronic aches and pains in these areas, you may benefit from regular physical therapy treatment.

A skilled physical therapist can help to improve your daily quality of life by targeting your problem areas to decrease pain and boost mobility over time.

If you or a loved one experiences pain and discomfort when getting up from a chair, walking down to the corner store, or going up and down the stairs—there’s a good chance that physical therapy can help to ease your pain, stiffness, and weakness.

Call our offices today to learn more about how we can help to reduce your chronic hip or knee pain and be sure to schedule a free initial consultation with our physical therapist.

Why did my hip and knee pain develop?

The hips and knees are the largest joints in the human body and do much of the work in supporting your body weight.

They must both work together in close coordination to keep your body mobile but can easily be affected by injury, arthritis and other common conditions.

In some cases, knee and hip problems can be treated with certain exercises or pain relief medication. But it is also very common for hip and knee problems to worsen over time, making them difficult to treat with over-the-counter solutions.

Common conditions resulting in hip and knee pain

While each person is different, many of our physical therapy clients experience recurring hip and knee pain as a result of a few different causes.

These include:

  • Core Muscle Injury — Notice a pain in your groin area after a weekend of playing ball with your pals? If so, you may be suffering from a core muscle injury, like a strain or tear of the muscles and soft tissues in your lower abdomen area. Rest can help this common injury, but we recommend scheduling an appointment with our physical therapist if the hip pain lasts for several days to a week or more.
  • “Runner’s knee” – An unstable kneecap can lead to chronic knee pain. This condition is known as patellofemoral syndrome or “runner’s knee.”
  • Bursitis — If you notice recurring pain on the outside of your hip, buttocks, or thigh, there’s a good chance that you have bursitis or inflammation of the cushioning pillow-like sacs that work to keep your tendons from rubbing against your bone. This is a common condition as we age and can be relieved with targeted physical therapy treatments.
  • Strains, sprains, and ruptures – The knee and hip joints can move thanks to muscles, tendons and ligaments. Repetitive motion or acute injuries can cause a strain (damage to muscles or tendons) or a sprain (hyperextension of a ligament). Athletes are vulnerable to ruptures of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
  • Fractures — The bones of the knee can easily be broken during a fall, car accident or sporting accident. The risk of suffering a knee fracture increases as we age, as many older adults develop osteoporosis which weakens the bones. Physical therapy can help to reduce pain and inflammation after a fracture and increase mobility over time.
  • Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage that normally keeps the bone ends in a joint from rubbing together. The resulting friction causes chronic pain and inflammation.
  • Torn Meniscus — The meniscus is a tough, rubbery piece of cartilage that works as a shock absorber in the thigh bone and shinbone area. If you suddenly twist your knee while playing sports or attempting other strenuous moves, the meniscus can be torn, causing intense and long-lasting pain. Regular visits with our physical therapist can help to reduce your symptoms.

Ready to get started on a treatment plan?

Depending on the severity of your injury, physical therapy can provide a safe, non-invasive and holistic treatment option.

Physical therapy treatments for hip and knee pain may include stretching and strengthening, balance training, joint mobilization, electrical stimulation and more.

Our physical therapist will work with you to tailor a treatment plan that works to fit your specific lifestyle needs and can also help to create a comprehensive home exercise routine that will help you to maintain a better quality of life between appointments.

The sooner you seek physical therapy for knee or hip pain, the better. Research shows that patients who rehab their hip or knee pain with physical therapy within 15 days of symptom onset have less need for pain injections, medications, or surgical intervention.

Contact Goodlife Physical Therapy today to schedule your free initial physical therapy consultation.