Hip and Knee Pain
Get Moving Again With Hip and Knee Pain Relief
Living with Hip or Knee Pain? We Can Help!
Do you sometimes worry that your knees will “give out” from underneath you while you’re standing up? Do you fear lying down at night or getting up in the morning because of the pain in your hips? Know that you’re not alone – pain in the hips and knees is very common!
Hip pain and knee pain can seriously interfere with your life, especially if you’re dealing with both at the same time. You may feel that there is no solution to your pain other than over-the-counter medications.
Whether you have hip pain, knee pain, or both, physical therapy can help you get to the root of your problem safely and comfortably, without the need for harmful drugs or surgery. Schedule an appointment with Lycoming Physical Therapy in Muncy or Montoursville, PA today to get back to a healthy, active lifestyle.
How will physical therapy relieve my pain?
You don’t have to let the pain of the hips and knees slow you down. Physical therapy can help you. Our physical therapy treatments at Lycoming Physical Therapy can help to reduce (and even eliminate) the pain in the hips and knees. This can end up keeping you from going through expensive, painful surgery!
At your first appointment, one of our physical therapists will examine your hip and/or knee for signs of misalignment or structural damage, in addition to examining your stance, posture, gait, and range of motion.
After you have completed your physical exam, our physical therapists will prescribe a physical therapy plan for you, in order to relieve unnatural stress and strains. They will also focus on improving your overall joint function so that you can get back to living comfortably.
You will be given targeted exercises designed to relieve joint pain and stabilize the weak hip and/or knee. Exercises may vary depending on your condition; for example, research has shown that those suffering from kneecap pain tend to respond better to exercises that focus on strengthening both the hips and the knees, rather than just focusing on the knees alone.
You may also receive core strengthening exercises that can also improve your back muscle groups, lower abdominal muscle groups, or pelvic muscles. Core exercises are designed to straighten your posture and equalize the weight load on both sides of your body.
As our therapists see fit, additional specialized treatments may be added to your recovery plan, such as mobilizations to improve joint movement or other soft tissue treatments that relieve pain and promote healing of damaged hip and/or knee tissue.
What caused my hip/knee pain?
There are many reasons why hip and knee pain may occur.
Hip and knee pain may occur as a result of a pinched sciatic nerve, as the nerve travels through both areas. Unbalanced posture or gait may cause abnormal stress and premature wear and tear in your hips and knees, resulting in painful symptoms of arthritis.
Overuse injuries such as tendinitis and chronic muscle strain are common in both hips and knees because both joints are in constant use. They are also affected by acute injuries, such as sprains, strains, and dislocation.
Some painful conditions may be specific to one or the other joint. Cartilage injuries known as labral tears are specific to hip pain, while bursa sac inflammation known as bursitis is a specific condition affecting the joint of the knee.
However, painful injuries that cause instability in the hips may also affect the knees. Tight hip flexor muscles and weak gluteus medius muscles can cause the hip to rotate inward without realizing it. This can cause painful problems, such as iliotibial band friction syndrome or patellofemoral stress syndrome, as well as stress 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 assessment of your condition.
How hip and knee pain are related to one another
Often when we’re in pain and go to the doctors to find out what the problem is, we’re shocked to hear that the area we’re experiencing pain isn’t really a cause for concern. That’s because all of our body parts are interconnected and work together to keep us going. Many times, if your knee hurts you, it’s your hip too, and vice versa!
Pain felt in the hips and/or knees may originate in the joints themselves, but it may also be due to an underlying condition in another part of the body.
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint that works to support the weight of your upper body, relying on multiple muscles and tissues to keep it mobile and stable so that it can function properly.
Your knee is a hinge joint, confined to forward-and-backward movements. Your knees support more weight than your hips, 6 times your body weight when you squat. Proper movement of both your hips and knees allows complicated movements to give you the ability to stand, walk, run, and dance without falling over.
The hips and knees are part of the same kinetic chain, which means that they make up a combination of weight-bearing joints that must work together in harmony in order for the body to function properly.
As a result, problems with your knee joint can cause problems with your hips, and vice versa. If one part of the kinetic chain is out of balance, stress and deterioration may be placed on another part of the chain. It’s all connected!
Find effective relief today
It’s time to stand up against your hip and knee pain – start on the path to long-lasting pain relief today! Your hips and knees are going to be glad you did that.
Contact Lycoming Physical Therapy today to talk to one of our dedicated physical therapists. At our Muncy or Montoursville, PA physical therapy practice, you are in good hands!
