Chronic hip pain can be debilitating, affecting your sleep quality and mobility. Understanding the different conditions that cause hip pain can help you decide whether physical therapy may be right for you. Here are some of the conditions that can result in hip pain and how they are frequently treated.

3 Possible Reasons for Your Hip Pain

1. Bursitis

Bursae are small sacks of fluid that cushion the structures around your joints, such as bones and muscles. Repetitive motion or natural aging can cause inflammation of these sacs, or bursitis, which results in pain and stiffness along the joint. Physical therapy is a common treatment for this condition, using targeted exercises to strengthen muscles around the joint. Localized corticosteroid injections can also help reduce inflammation to relieve pain and improve movement.

2. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that breaks down cartilage around joints, causes continuous bone on bone contact that brings swelling, stiffness, and pain.

Physical therapists focus on strength-building exercises to reduce pain and other symptoms, in addition to hot/cold therapies, assistive devices, and stretches. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and corticosteroids, are also effective for minimizing symptoms.

3. Tendinitis

Repetitive motion and age can also cause tendinitis, which inflames tendons around the hip and other joints, creating a dull ache, swelling, and tenderness. To prevent rupture and mitigate pain, treatments can include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, compression and cold therapy, or surgery in severe cases.

If you suffer from frequent or constant hip pain due to a medical condition or sports injury, visit the orthopedic care team at Source Therapy in Gig Harbor, WA. They design targeted physical therapy regimens with the latest fitness equipment to boost range of motion, decrease pain, and improves balance. Send them your questions online, or call (253) 857-4870 to schedule a free consultation.