Hip and Knee Pain

Hip and knee pain can seriously interfere with your life, especially if you are dealing with both. Whichever one you may be suffering from, physical therapy is a safe, easy, and comfortable way to diagnose and provide relief, without the need for harmful drugs or surgery.

Your hip and knees contain similar structures; therefore, they can be subject to similar stresses. Many times, the hip and knees suffer the same diseases, disorders, and injuries. For example, overuse injuries, such as tendonitis, and chronic muscle strain, are common in both the hip and knees due to the constant use that those joints experience. The hip and knee are also both vulnerable to acute injuries, such as strains, sprains, and dislocation.

Hip and knee pain can also develop as a direct result of referred pain from a pinched sciatic nerve, since the nerve travels through both areas. Additionally, imbalances in your stance or gait may cause abnormal stresses and premature wear-and-tear in your hips and knees, resulting in the development of painful symptoms or even arthritis.

Painful injuries that cause instability in the hips can also affect the knees. For example, tight hip flexor muscles and weak gluteus medius muscles can cause the hip to rotate inward without you realizing it. This can result in painful conditions, such as iliotibial band friction syndrome or patellofemoral stress syndrome, as abnormal stress is being put on the knee or kneecap by the hip.

Your hip and knees are part of the same kinetic chain, meaning they make up a combination of weight-bearing joints that must function together in harmony in order for your body and posture to function properly. Therefore, a problem with your knee joint may transmit painful signals to your hips, and vice versa. If one part of the kinetic chain is out of balance, stress and deterioration may be placed on another.

The physical therapists will examine your hip and/or knee for signs of misalignment or structural damage, in addition to examining your gait, posture, stance, and range of motion. After your physical evaluation is complete, your physical therapist will prescribe you with a physical therapy plan, aimed at relieving any abnormal stresses and strains on your hips or knees, and working to normalize your overall joint function.

You will be given targeted exercises designed for relieving joint pain and stabilizing weak hip and/or knee tissues. The exercises may vary depending on your condition; for example, research has demonstrated that those suffering from kneecap pain tend to respond better to exercises that focus on strengthening both the hips and knees, rather than just focusing on the knees alone.

You may also be given exercises designed to strengthen the core. This may include your lower abdominal muscle groups, lower back muscle groups, or pelvic muscles. Core exercises are aimed at straightening your posture and equalizing the weight load on both sides of your body. Additional specialized treatments including manual therapy, Kinesio Tape, dry needling or phonophoresis may be deemed necessary in treating hip and knee dysfunction.

It is time to take a stand against your hip and knee pain. Get hip and knee pain relief with physical therapy. Contact New Stride Physical Therapy to get started on the path toward pursuing your hobbies comfortably, with long-lasting pain relief.