Your hips and knees are the largest joints in your body. While many people may experience hip pain or knee pain on their own, it is also common to experience them together as well. You may first notice hip pain on the outside area of the hip, along with the outer buttock or upper thigh area. Hip pain can occur whether you are at rest, walking or during any other type of physical activity. Knee pain is another very common reason why people visit our physical and occupational therapist each day. In addition to chronic pain, other common symptoms of knee pain include stiffness, swelling popping, and general instability. Many therapy patients also find that it is difficult or even impossible to fully straighten the knee as well. If you are experiencing hip pain or knee pain, call Sports Rehab & Professional Therapy Associates today to schedule an appointment.
What Are the Common Causes of Hip and Knee Pain?
Although the hip joint is very durable, it can become worn down over time due to age or overuse. As the hip joint becomes more worn down, you are much more likely to experience chronic hip pain. Additionally, a slip and fall can cause the bones in the hip to break and arthritis affects the cartilage in the hip as well. Some other common causes of hip pain include:
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Hip fractures
- Work injuries
- Tendon or muscle strain
- Certain cancers
- Osteonecrosis
- And more
Like hip pain, knee pain is often associated with the normal aging process or overuse. However, chronic knee pain can also be the result of damage to the bony structures that make up the knee joint like the fibula, tibia, and femur. Damage to the cartilage and ligaments can also send patients to the physical and occupational therapist in search of fast pain relief. Other common causes of knee pain include:
- Arthritis (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
- Sports injuries
- Auto accident injuries
- Bursitis
- Torn meniscus
- Medial plica syndrome
Additionally, if the knee joint somehow becomes dislocated due to a sport or work injury, it can result in lasting knee pain.
How Does Physical and Occupational Therapy Help Treat Hip and Knee Pain?
If you suffer from ongoing hip or knee pain, physical and occupational therapy can help to manage your pain while restoring strength and improving your overall mobility. This safe, effective and non-invasive treatment method is also prescription drug-free, making it ideal for patients of all ages. Studies have shown that the manual techniques and mobilizations used in physical and occupational therapy can not only reduce hip and knee pain but reduce inflammation, restore your natural range of motion and strengthen the hip and knee joints.
Our physical and occupational therapist will work closely with you to design a therapy treatment plan that fits your individual needs. By targeting the root cause of your chronic pain instead of simply treating your symptoms, you can enjoy fast pain relief. For better results, our physical and occupational therapist may also recommend using both at-home exercises and passive treatments like heat and ice therapy or electrical stimulation to reduce your chronic pain. While other more invasive treatment methods may call for surgery to relieve your hip and knee pain, this holistic treatment option is safe and gentle. In fact, many people who do end up electing to have surgery to correct a hip or knee injury will still need to use physical and occupational therapy to recover and reduce pain.
Learn More About the Benefits of Physical and Occupational Therapy for Hip and Knee Pain
If you or a loved one is suffering from a debilitating hip or knee injury, physical and occupational therapy can help! Our experienced therapist has the tools necessary to create a tailor-made treatment plan that will quickly help to reduce your pain and support natural healing without the use of prescription pain medications. Contactour friendly team of physical therapists online today at Cherokee, Storm Lake, Ida Grove, Denison, IA centers for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
FAQs
What causes knee pain?
Your knees are hinge joints that allow for the forward-and-backward motions within the joint.
The knee is one of the largest joints in your body, made up of a complex system of bones, tendons, and ligaments. Because of this, the knee can be easily injured due to overexertion or repetitive motions. Additionally, knee pain can be caused due to an underlying ailment. Some of the most common causes of knee pain are sprains, strains, fractures, tears, dislocation, tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis.
What can I do to relieve knee pain?
There are some actions you can take on your own to relieve your knee pain, including wearing properly fitted shoes, using hot and cold remedies, stretching, and taking breaks from physical activity when noticing painful flare-ups. However, physical therapy is the best way to find consistent, long-lasting relief for your knee pain. Through manual therapy, strength training, flexibility training, balance training, and pain-specific exercises, physical therapy can get your knees moving comfortably once again.
How do I get rid of knee pain?
Frequently consulting with a physical therapist is the best way to continually manage your knee pain. Having a regular physical therapy checkup ensures that your joints are working at their peak performance. In addition, any problems will be discovered early, preventing the onset of arthritis and joint injury. If you do have arthritis or have had surgery, then a regular physical therapy check-up is especially important, in order to make sure that your knee pain remains at bay.
How do you diagnose knee pain?
Our physical therapists will examine your knee for signs of misalignment or structural damage, in addition to examining your stance, posture, gait, and range of motion. If needed, additional tests (such as x-rays) may be conducted. This will help determine the cause of your knee pain so we can treat it accordingly. After your initial evaluation is complete, your physical therapist will prescribe a physical therapy plan specifically for you, aimed at relieving unnatural stresses and strains, and normalizing your joint function.
