Hip and Knee Pain

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Hip and Knee Pain

What Is Hip and Knee Pain?

The knees and hips are the body’s largest joints. Hip pain may be on the outside of your hip, upper thigh, or outer buttock. The pain may occur when resting, walking, or participating in some kind of activity. Symptoms of knee pain may include more than just pain. There may be swelling, stiffness, instability, popping noises, or the inability to fully straighten or bend the knee. Both hip and knee pain can be persistent and limit mobility and activities.

It is no surprise that many of us will suffer from knee or hip pain at some point in our lives. At FYZICAL – Northwest El Paso, our goal is to relieve our patients of any long-term pain and get them back to loving their life.

The Causes of Hip and Knee Pain

Even though the hip joint is durable, the joint can get worn down over time, resulting in hip pain. Bones in the hip can break after a fall and lead to hip pain. Arthritis, hip fractures, bursitis, tendinitis, and low back injuries are common causes of hip pain.

Arthritis leads to the breakdown of cartilage. It may cause reduced range of motion, stiffness, and/or pain.

Bursitis occurs when the bursae get inflamed due to friction from tissues rubbing together. Usually, inflammation of the bursae is a result of repetitive activities that irritate the joint.

Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons, which are thick bands of tissues that connect bones to the muscles. Like bursitis, it’s usually from repetitive movements.

Knee pain may come from any of the bones that make up the knee joint, which are the fibula, tibia, and femur. Knee pain can also be caused by damage to the ligaments and cartilage of the knee.

Furthermore, fractures, dislocations, ligament injuries, or injury to the meniscus can also cause pain. The most common ligament injury in the knee is anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. Often, it is due to a change of direction or sudden stop when participating in sports. Abnormal compression combined with twisting the knee can cause injury to the meniscus. The meniscus is made of cartilage and acts as a shock absorber.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Hip and Knee Pain

Research has shown that those with hip and knee pain benefit from physical therapy. One study compared patients who attended physical therapy to people who only did exercises at home to reduce hip and knee pain. The patients who went to physical therapy had twice the pain relief compared to those who didn’t go to physical therapy. The techniques used by physical therapists also improved daily mobility and the quality of life.

Physical therapists design specific exercise programs based on the individual’s needs to reduce hip and knee pain. Patients may also receive passive treatments, such as ice therapy, heat therapy, or electrical stimulation to help reduce pain. All around, physical therapy uses a holistic and multi-faceted approach to help patients manage hip and knee pain in order to return to what you love.

At FYZICAL – Northwest El Paso, our clinicians are either certified or have training in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (McKenzie Method). This method allows our therapists to efficiently assess for any musculoskeletal disorders including the hip and knee and understand if the issue is a mechanical problem that can be helped with specific exercises that the McKenzie Method offers. We are one of 35 clinics in the United States that are certified in this method of treatment.

If you’re suffering from hip or knee pain, take action! Contact FYZICAL - Northwest El Paso to learn more about how our experienced and certified physical therapists can help get you on the road to recovery. Don’t suffer in pain when we can help you love your life again!