Hip Pain

Hip pain can be difficult to escape because it’s so hard to find a position that doesn’t put pressure on these large joints. At their offices in Downtown Washington DC, the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation team uses a variety of noninvasive techniques to reduce hip pain and inflammation and keep you mobile. To benefit from their expertise in treating hip pain, call today or book an appointment online. 

What are the causes of hip pain?

There are three broad kinds of hip pain — trauma to the joint, which includes injuries like fractures and dislocations; overuse injuries; and chronic diseases. Within these categories, the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation team most often sees conditions like:

Arthritis

The wear-and-tear condition osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is one of the leading causes of chronic hip pain. Years of use erode the protective layer of cartilage on the bones in your joints, creating friction and inflammation that cause progressively worsening pain and stiffness.

Other forms of the disease, like rheumatoid arthritis, can also affect the hips.

Bursitis

Bursitis tends to arise from overuse, which causes inflammation in the bursae, the fluid-filled sacs that cushion your joints. The most common kind is trochanteric bursitis, which causes pain on the outside of your hips.

Hip fractures

In older people, hip fractures are a common problem. Aging and weakening of the bones from osteoporosis mean even a gentle fall could break a bone. In addition, older people are more likely to develop balance problems that increase their risk of falling.

Fractures in younger people and injuries to the hips like dislocations and labral tears might be due to auto accidents, sports injuries, or other traumas.

How do spinal disorders cause hip pain?

Pain in the hips and buttocks is often due to nerve compression in your lower back. Conditions like herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis (narrowed spinal canal) can press on or damage the nerves that are leaving your spinal cord to serve the rest of your body.

Sciatica, for example, occurs when a damaged disc, bone spur, thickened ligament, or other protruding tissue presses on the sciatic nerve in your lower spine. As the sciatic nerve travels into your hips and down your legs, a common symptom of sciatica is hip pain.

How is hip pain treated?

The Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation team offers a range of effective, noninvasive treatments for hip pain. These include:

Your therapist at Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation also uses active physical therapy methods, including targeted stretching, balance exercises, and walking retraining to support your rehabilitation.

If you’re unsure where to turn for effective relief from hip pain, look no further than the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation team. Call their office or book an appointment online today.