Solutions for Hip and Knee Pain

Solutions for Hip and Knee Pain

Do you have pain in your hips or knees when trying to enjoy leisurely walks, climbing stairs, or bending down to retrieve a dropped item? Hip and knee pain can limit your ability to perform and enjoy daily activities. Fortunately, at Achieve Therapy & Fitness, our therapists can teach you how to find relief and get back to doing what you love!

Your hips are ball and socket joints, meaning that your femur (thigh bone) fits perfectly into your pelvis (hip socket). There is a cushion of cartilage in your hips that helps prevent friction as your hip bone moves within the socket. 

The knee joint is also one of the most complicated joints in the body, as it has to bear up to 6 times your body weight when running or jumping. This incredible joint is vital for walking, stairs, and bending or kneeling movements. This is also why things can go wrong, resulting in injury and pain. Pain ensues if the cartilage wears down or is damaged due to age or injury. It is also possible for the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip and knee to experience pain from overuse or trauma. No matter the source of pain, we offer solutions to help you resume your normal activities. 

If your hip or knee pain limits you from living the life you want, don’t hesitate to contact Achieve Therapy & Fitness as soon as possible. We’ll help you get moving freely once again!

What Causes Hip and Knee Pain?

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing hip or knee pain. Some of the most common causes include:

• Arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common causes of hip and knee pain. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints and can lead to a quicker breakdown of cartilage in the hips. This can lead to pain or stiffness with movement. 
• Tears and ruptures. There are ligaments and cartilage in the hips and knees that are susceptible to injury, including tearing. Tears to ligaments leave the joints unstable, while cartilage tears typically affect your range of motion. Most tears result from some trauma or sports-related accident.
• Bursitis. Bursae are liquid sacs that can be found between tissues. They help ease friction from tissues running together; however, they can also become inflamed due to overuse and trauma, resulting in pain. So, if you feel achy after walking too far, it may be your body’s way of telling you you’ve done too much!
• Strains and Tendonitis. Muscles or tendons can become strained and/or inflamed due to overuse and repeated activity. This causes inflammation and fraying of the tissue, resulting in pain. 

Although it is less common, fractures and dislocations are possible due to accidents or diseases such as cancer. This is something to keep in mind as you participate in physically demanding activities and hobbies. If you are experiencing pain from a recent slip or fall, you may be feeling the symptoms of a fracture or even a dislocation.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Hip and Knee Pain

Our physical therapists are movement experts! We will start with an injury evaluation and a biomechanical assessment to identify all the factors that may be contributing to your pain. 

This will consist of a thorough history to understand more about the training schedule, the demands on the body, and the athlete’s overall health status. 

We will use this information to develop a comprehensive program that includes targeted manual techniques, mobility work, strengthening, and any appropriate pain relief technique for the best possible outcome. 

Rehabilitation should start immediately following most injuries to ensure the fastest recovery possible. Our physical therapists will determine the injury’s severity and identify any other weaknesses or limitations that may affect the athlete’s recovery, stability, or strength. Physical therapy will provide the foundation for success while reducing future injuries!

National PT Month

National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated every October in the United States to recognize and promote the value of physical therapy in improving people’s lives. This observance is an opportunity to highlight the work of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, who play a crucial role in helping patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall quality of life.