Hip pain is a multifaceted issue often resulting from multiple causes. Therefore, it needs to be addressed with the same complexity and nuance that caused it.
So what are these causes and how do they present in your average person versus your serious athlete?
Common Causes:
- Structural Problem (impingement, labral tear, dysplasia, etc.)
- Poor positioning over extended periods of time
- Overuse of specific muscles leading to imbalance
⬆️⬆️Ultimately, hip pain is usually caused by a combo of all three. ⬆️⬆️
AVERAGE PERSON:
- Structural problems
- Stiffness/weakness from prolonged positions
- Pain with use due to weakness, compensations, and overuse
ATHLETE:
- Structural problems
- Overuse from high-level stresses such as running, biking, lifting etc.
So why Pelvic Health Physical Therapy?
Pelvic health physical therapy looks at everything from the abdominals down through the inner thighs. Your pelvic floor/core are your powerhouse in the body. Any hip/back pain is indicative that your core is dysfunctional. The hip muscles are a part of the pelvic floor. In traditional PT, therapists are only trained to treat the hip from the outside and not as a part of the complex pelvic floor which consists of over 20 muscles! In pelvic PT, we treat from the outside AND the inside. Think about washing a window on only one side. Your view isn’t clear if you don’t address both sides of the window.
Due to the hip’s relationship as a part of the pelvic floor, many times people with hip pain also experience pelvic floor dysfunction that manifests itself as leakage, pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, tailbone pain, prolapse, bladder urgency and/or frequency, etc.
🦄 At OrthoPelvic PT, we are the unicorns! We address both! We are pelvic health and orthopedic specialists. That is why we are able to get such amazing results from our patients. We are able to look at issues holistically, get to the root of those issues, and address them comprehensively.
So how do we treat hip pain at OrthoPelvic PT?
AVERAGE PERSON:
- Address postures, positions, functional movements
- Mobilize the hip*
- Strengthen the hip
ATHLETE:
- Same as the average person but emphasis longevity, volume, and getting back to the highest level of performance
*Another thing that sets us apart is our work mobilizing the hip before we jump to any strengthening. We believe it is vital to relax and lengthen the hip muscles and get back range of motion before we try to strengthen. We really are great, go us!
If you are dealing with hip pain or another nagging pain or injury that just won’t go away, book a FREE 10-minute consult call today. We know we can help you ✨
Be empowered in education,
OrthoPelvic Physical Therapy
