Hip and Knee Pain Relief with Physical Therapy

Hip and Knee pain relief with physical therapy

Hip and knee pain has many causes, from excess weight to sports injuries and advancing age to repetitive motion injuries. Whatever the cause of your pain, if you are experiencing it regularly, finding a way to manage it is crucial. Many people use medications like anti-inflammatories or pain relievers to minimize their discomfort. However, these medications have potential side effects, so finding other ways to relieve your pain is vital. Physical therapy is a proven, medication-free medical treatment for knee and hip pain.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Knee and Hip Pain

Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts trained to evaluate and identify the root cause of your pain and discomfort and provide care to help you recover. Here are some ways your physical therapist may help you if you are experiencing hip or knee pain.

what is musculoskeletal?

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 contributing to your pain, such as poor posture, compromised walking patterns, or improper ergonomics at home or work. Once they identify the origin, physical therapists can work with you to correct these issues.

Exercise 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. A key focus of your physical therapist will be to prescribe specific exercises designed to target various muscles and strengthen them to better support your joints.

Exercises to improve mobility and flexibility

Often hip and knee pain can lead to loss of mobility (joint motion) and flexibility (muscular motion), which increases the wear on your joints and can lead to even more pain. Physical therapists can identify stretches and utilize their specialized services to improve your mobility and flexibility to gain the most motion possible based on your body and circumstances.

Heat and ice therapy

Ice can also reduce inflammation and hip and/or knee pain. Heat can be used to improve your mobility and decrease the amount of pain you are experiencing so that you can move more freely. Read our health blog to learn when to use heat or ice.

Physical Therapy Treatments and Services

Based on the findings of your evaluation, your medical history, and your preferences for care, there are many services that your physical therapist will discuss with you. Some of those may include:

Your physical therapy treatment will be personalized, so it’s important to discuss your care and progress often with your physical therapist. As your body gets stronger and more mobile, you will likely experience less pain in your hips and knees. By staying on track with your physical therapy care plan, and by the time you complete your physical therapy care and are ready for discharge, you will be on the road to health and wellness!

Ask Your Medical Provider About the Benefits of Physical Therapy

Physical therapists examine each individual patient and develop a personalized care plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, prevent disability, and reduce reliance on pain medications. Physical therapists can have a profound effect on people’s lives. If you suffer from knee or hip pain, ask your medical provider for a referral to physical therapy.

Call your nearest Bay State Physical Therapy clinic today to request an evaluation, or complete the form below!

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