Physical Therapy for Hip and Groin Pain
Your hip, in a nutshell, is a ball and socket joint that is made up of your femur and your pelvis. There are many ligaments and muscles that support those bones and provide the necessary stability to function properly. Through activity, sport, and everyday life, those vital areas can become damaged and cause a great deal of hip and groin pain. In many cases, the symptoms of pain and limitation on one side may be coming from weakness or instability somewhere else. An overuse injury to your muscles that support your hip and other areas (such as your lower back and sciatic nerve) can also be the culprit.
If you have hip or groin pain, you are not alone. We see patients regularly with pain in these regions and have successfully helped them get back to a pain-free life. They were able to retrieve their functional mobility, improve or eliminate their symptoms, and learn the necessary precautionary measures to stop their pain from ever coming back. If you decide to dedicate yourself to physical therapy, you will also have those favorable results.
In many cases, the symptoms of pain and limitation on one side may be coming from weakness or instability somewhere else.
Causes of Hip and Groin Pain
When it comes to targeting the cause of hip and groin pain, it is not always easy to pinpoint the cause right away. Common hip injuries include:
• Hip Labral Tears: This is common in athletes in sports that require quick movements and constant directional changes.
•Hamstring Strains/Tears: These often happen during rapid movement of the hip during sprinting or other sports.
• Groin Strains: This can happen to anyone, and is frequently caused by sudden movements that cause the hip adductor muscles becoming overstretched.
• Osteoarthritis: More often in older-aged adults, osteoarthritis is when the cartilage in your bones and joints start wearing away. This can cause stiffness in your hip joint and groin area.
How will Physical Therapy help?
The main goal of a physical therapist is to discover the issue that is causing your pain and then structure the right treatment plan to improve your muscle strength, range of motion, and optimize your recovery speed.
Your physical therapist will ask you a series of personal questions, such as when you first felt the pain, where you feel it, how you think it started if you heard a "pop" if there was any swelling, and much more to target the cause.
They will then work with you, performing special tests to determine the diagnosis, and once evident on what is going on, they will then begin the treatment.
For instance, they will focus on pain management with things such as exercises, stretches, hands-on manual therapy, work on your strength to restore your agility, and do so while picking the right movements to reduce recovery time. It is also likely they will go over recommendations to help you avoid this occurring again in the future.
- Abductor/Gluteus Medius Tear
- Arthritis or Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Fracture of the Hip
- Fracture of the Pelvis
- Developmental Dysplasia
- Groin (Abductor) Strain
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Dysplasia in Adults
- Hip Flexor Injury
- Hip Impingement
Seeking Physical Therapy
When it comes to hip and groin pain, most of the time, it is caused by an issue in your hip bones or other structures that are within or around your hip joint. And, of course, strains are another leading factor as well. When treated correctly and quickly, most people can have extremely favorable outcomes. Overall, no matter what your underlying cause may be, we highly suggest you seek physical therapy to help support you in reaching a better quality of life.
Remember, you do not have to live with radiating pain when you walk, sit, or lay down. If you are ready to begin recovery, please don’t hesitate to contact us today to get started on your healing journey.
About
Symmetry Physical Therapy is a privately owned one-on-one, patient-centered physical therapy clinic in Downtown Miami/Brickell. Every treatment is with the same Doctor of Physical Therapy for the entire hour. Symmetry’s specialized, dedicated, and passionate team of physical therapists is fully committed to each patient’s success.
Award-Winning Service