Category: Hip Pain

What to do about sudden sharp pain in the hip that comes and goes
Hip pain can be a very disruptive force in people’s lives. It can make romping with the grandkids harder. Walking to the mailbox might become a task you avoid. There are many issues that can cause sudden sharp pain in the hip that comes and goes, but the most likely cause is hip osteoarthritis.

Is sudden sharp hip pain that comes and goes common for hip osteoarthritis patients?

Hip osteoarthritis affects each patient in unique ways, but it’s something that many of us might have to deal with as we get older. In fact, it’s estimated that about 19% of men and 29% of women will develop hip osteoarthritis in their lifetime.

There are two types of pain that patients with this type of arthritis typically report. The first is a dull aching or throbbing sort of pain. The second is episodes of sudden sharp pain in the hip that come and go. Studies also show that hip osteoarthritis pain is more predictable than that of knee osteoarthritis. This means that there are certain steps you can take to reduce it.

How can you have fewer episodes of sudden sharp hip pain that comes and goes?

Episodes of sudden sharp hip osteoarthritis pain are often triggered by specific factors. Some of the triggers for episodes of intense hip osteoarthritis pain include:
- Sitting or lying down for long periods of time
- Spreading your legs
- Rotating your feet inward or outward
- Bending over
- Getting into or out of a car
- Prolonged periods of physical activity
Back in Motion can help you find other ways to reduce your hip pain

You don’t have to deal with sudden sharp hip osteoarthritis pain that comes and goes on your own. Our therapy specialists at Back in Motion Physical Therapy are ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings that can confirm the cause of your pain. Our team also excels at building personalized therapy programs for patients dealing with hip osteoarthritis symptoms.

Want to get therapy for your pain without leaving home? Back in Motion can help with that, too. We’re currently offering virtual care and at-home therapy services, and these are intended to help you get the therapy you need without leaving your home. Additionally, we don’t require a doctor’s referral to use any of our services, which means you won’t have to leave home to get one.

Are you ready to start getting our help with your hip pain? Contact us today for more information about how we can help or to schedule a free screening.
July 9, 2020
What to do about a constant sharp, stabbing pain in the hip
The hip’s joints help swing your leg while you’re walking the dog. They also allow you to swing your leg out when getting out of the car and make many other common movements possible. However, even these normal daily activities can be a trial if your hip is painful.

Unfortunately, people are all too likely to develop hip pain. Medical researchers report that up to 40% of athletes develop chronic hip pain, and up to 15% of adults over 60 also experience pain in this joint. There is one issue that commonly causes constant sharp, stabbing pain in the hip. Luckily, there are also several treatment options that can help you deal with this issue.

This issue is likely causing the sharp, stabbing pain in your hip

A few issues can cause pain and dysfunction in your hip joints. Hip osteoarthritis and referred pain from the lower back can easily cause hips to be painful. However, people who are feeling sharp, stabbing pains in their hip are likely dealing with an issue called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

FAI occurs when the rim of cartilage around the socket of the hip joint, or labrum, is damaged or torn. Typically, this condition leads to symptoms such as:
- Sharp, stabbing pain in the groin area or outer hip
- Discomfort when sitting, particularly in low seats
- Catching, popping, snapping or clicking sensations in the hip
What can you do to reduce the sharp, stabbing pain in your hip?

Surgery is one of the most commonly used treatment options for FAI and the sharp, stabbing hip pain it causes. However, physical therapy is a less invasive option that can offer you several benefits.

Some of the benefits FAI patients could get from physical therapy include:
- Improvements in hip pain and function — The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT) is designed to measure hip pain and function. One study reports that a physical therapy program improved iHOT scores by 16 points on average over 12 weeks.
- Reduced need for hip surgery — Studies show that physical therapy for FAI can help patients decrease their need for surgery. Researchers from one study report that only 4 of the 37 participants who had physical therapy elected to have surgery.
Armor Physical Therapy is ready to help treat your hip pain

Do you have sharp, stabbing pain in your hip? Our therapy specialists at Armor Physical Therapy are here to help you. We offer free screenings that can reveal the source of your hip pain. Our team also excels at building personalized therapy plans intended to reduce hip pain. You can even get therapy from home thanks to our virtual care and at-home therapy services, and none of our services require that you have a doctor’s referral.

Contact us today for more information about how we can help with your hip pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
July 1, 2020
What is the reason I have lower back and hip pain on one side?
There are actually several possible answers to this question. In most cases, pain is felt in both the hip and the lower back because it’s what’s known as radiating pain. This type of pain starts in one part of the body, but it ends up being felt in another part.

The reason you can have radiating pain in your lower back and hip is they are connected to the same nerves. A combo of pain in these two areas is actually pretty common, too. Research shows that at any given time, about 31 million Americans are dealing with lower back pain. Other studies report that up to 40% of adult athletes experience chronic hip pain. There are also several issues that can cause lower back and hip pain on one side.

Three causes of lower back and hip pain on one side

Dealing with lower back pain or hip pain individually can be hard. Either of these can make tasks like walking your dog or playing your favorite sport more difficult. When you’re feeling both lower back and hip pain in one side, they can have an even greater impact.

Physical therapists can help you treat the combination of these two types of pain. However, treating them effectively requires that your therapist knows the exact cause of your pain. Here are three issues that can cause this pain combo:
1. Sciatica — This issue occurs when one of the sciatic nerves is pinched or injured. Sciatica tends to cause pain on only one side of the body. Additionally, the pain can radiate down the entire length of the nerve. This means it can cause pain sensations in both the lower back and hip. It’s estimated that up to 40% of people will experience sciatica in their lifetime.
1. Hip osteoarthritis — Researchers report that 27% of people over 45 show signs of hip osteoarthritis. This issue occurs because of natural wear and tear in the hip joint. Pain from this condition can also radiate into the lower back or groin area.
1. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — The sacroiliac (SI) joint is located between the pelvis and the sacrum. An injury to this joint can lead to radiating pain that’s felt in the hip, lower back or groin. One study found that up to 25% of patients who report chronic lower back pain actually have pain radiating from the SI joint.
Lower back and hip pain on one side? Whatcom Physical Therapy can help

Don’t know where to turn for help with your lower back and hip pain on one side? Our therapy specialists at Whatcom Physical Therapy are ready and willing to assist you. We offer free screenings that can reveal the specific cause of your pain. Our team also excels at creating personalized therapy programs for each patient’s needs. We’re even currently offering virtual care sessions for patients who are staying at home.

Take the next step to start getting the help you need for your pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule your initial appointment.
June 5, 2020
What conditions could be causing dull pain in my hip?
It’s normal to have sore hips every now and then. Maybe you went for a hike or sat at a desk for too long. In these scenarios, the hip pain is usually mild and goes away after a bit of rest. However, if you’re experiencing a constant, dull pain in your hip, you may have a condition that requires professional treatment.

Conditions that may be causing a dull pain in your hip

Dull pain in the hip can keep you from getting on your feet and enjoying your favorite activities, such as sports or playing with your children. Conditions that contribute to a dull pain in the hip can include:
- Arthritis — Arthritis is a condition that causes the cartilage in your joints to wear down. When arthritis affects your hips, it can be felt at first as a persistent, dull pain. Eventually, the pain can grow worse and you will experience other symptoms, such as stiffness or a grinding sensation when moving your hips.
- Bursitis — The tendons, muscles and bones are not supposed to rub against one another; this would be painful and cause constant irritation and inflammation. Thankfully, you have bursae in between them all to keep this from happening. However, overexertion or a traumatic injury can cause the bursae to become inflamed, which causes pain known as bursitis.
- Tendinitis — Overusing the hip in physical activity or stressing it in an injury can cause inflammation along the tendons connected to it. This inflammation is known as tendinitis, and it can be felt as a dull pain or as a burning pain.
- Sprains and strains — Strains and sprains occur when you overstretch or tear your muscles, tendons and ligaments. Strains and sprains vary in severity, sometimes being felt as a mild, dull pain for a few days, other times being felt as a more intense pain for weeks.
Visit Border Therapy Services today for dull hip pain treatment

At Border Therapy Services, our physical therapists can provide treatment that helps you manage and prevent hip pain. We always personalize our treatments to the needs of each individual patient using methods like:
- Gentle exercises and stretches
- Posture guidance
- Hands-on therapy
- Patient education
Are you tired of letting hip pain control your life? Let the Border team assist you in your recovery. Contact our team today for more information about dull hip pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 3, 2020
What conditions are causing a dull pain in my hip?

It’s normal to have sore hips every now and then from something like sitting for too long or working too hard on your yard. However, dull hip pain that persists and is accompanied by other issues like stiffness is a sign that you need treatment from a health care professional.

Several conditions are known to cause a dull pain in the hip. Take a look below at some of the most common ones to learn more about what might be affecting you:

Arthritis

A constant, dull ache in the hip is one of the hallmark symptoms of arthritis. This is a condition in which the cartilage in your joints, including the hip joints, breaks down from inflammation. The cartilage is supposed to cushion your bones from rubbing against one another, so when it wears down, you’ll experience a constant, dull ache and other symptoms like grinding and stiffness. Arthritis may also cause pain or a pinching sensation in your groin.

Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of your bursae, which are sacs of fluid that rest between your bones and your muscles and tendons. The bursae keep the muscles and tendons from rubbing against the bones, but frequent overexertion or an injury can cause the bursae to become inflamed. This can lead to a dull pain in the hip that becomes a sharp pain when bending or straightening your hip, as well as with direct pressure to the area such as lying on your side.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is the inflammation of one of your tendons, which are fibrous tissues that connect your muscles to your bones. The tendons around your hip can become inflamed from overexertion or an injury, which can lead to a dull pain in the hip and other symptoms, including swelling and tenderness near the joint and stiffness.

Sprains and strains

Sprains are overstretches or tears that affect the ligaments in your joints. Strains are overstretches or tears that affect the muscles and tendons. Both injuries can affect the muscles, tendons or ligaments around your hip if you are injured or overexert yourself in physical activity. A strain or sprain in the hip can feel like a persistent dull or sharp pain. Bruising, swelling, tenderness and a limited range of motion are also symptoms of sprains and strains.

Contact Advent Physical Therapy today to treat the dull pain in your hip

A pain in the hip affects your ability to do the things you love and live a normal daily life. Our physical therapists at Advent Physical Therapy can help you treat your hip pain so you can live a fuller quality of life. Contact us today for more information about treating hip pain or to schedule an initial appointment.

May 3, 2020
Chronic, dull pain in the hip when standing and walking
Hip pain can be contributed to a number of issues ranging from a pulled muscle to arthritis of the hip joint. The type of pain and how long it lasts is typically indicative of the cause of your pain. For example, a sharp pain in the hip when exercising could mean that you have an issue with your hip flexor muscle. Shooting pain when walking or standing could be a sign of a compressed sciatic nerve in the lower back. However, a chronic pain that is dull or mild is likely caused by osteoarthritis of the hip.

If you are experiencing a dull pain in your hip that lasts longer than a few days or a week, you should contact your doctor to determine the cause of your pain. If your symptoms are caused by arthritis of the hip, there are a few steps you can take to help relieve your pain.

What is arthritis of the hip?

Osteoarthritis of the hip occurs when the cartilage that surrounds the bones in the hip joint slowly thins, leaving the bones exposed and unprotected. Often, this is caused by natural wear and tear of the body due to repetitive motion, age and improper footwear over the years. As the cartilage wears down, the bones in the hip joint rub against each other during weight-bearing movements, such as standing or walking. This causes inflammation in the joint, which results in a dull, chronic pain.

Treatment options for dull pain in the hip joint

Most patients who are diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hip will be recommended to undergo physical therapy. Physical therapy can help reduce the inflammation in the hip joint through the following methods:
- Practicing proper hip alignment to reduce friction in the joint
- Strengthening the core to reduce pressure on the hip joint
- Stretching to relieve any muscle tension that is also causing pressure on the hip joint
Many patients are able to find relief after several weeks of consecutive physical therapy. To learn more about what could be causing the dull pain in your hip and how physical therapy can help, contact our team at Back in Motion today to schedule an appointment.
May 1, 2020
What does a hip impingement feel like and when do you need treatment?
You feel twinges of pain when rotating your hip. It’s difficult for you to walk uphill or get into or out of the car. If these scenarios sound familiar, you might have an issue called hip impingement.

Medical professionals refer to hip impingement as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and researchers estimate that up to 15% of adults have this hip issue. People who have a hip impingement should pay close attention to what it feels like. One reason for this is that these feelings could mean you need to seek treatment for your FAI.

What can a hip impingement feel like?

Hip impingement is an issue where there is abnormal contact between the head of the femur and the hip socket. This contact tends to cause increased friction in the hip joints, which can lead to increased femoral head wear. It can lead to labral tears and other hip problems as well.

There are several ways that people describe what a hip impingement feels like. These include sensations like:
- Stiffness in the groin
- Pain in the front of the thigh
- Pain down the buttock
- Popping or clicking in the front of the hip during movement
- Difficulty moving hip through full range of motion
When should you seek treatment for hip impingement?

In the early stages of FAI, resting your hip for a few days can help reduce pain and other symptoms. Additionally, medical professionals typically recommend using over-the-counter pain medication to treat early hip impingement symptoms. You can also make changes to your daily routine that help you avoid activities that cause symptoms to worsen.

After a while, these may no longer work for controlling your symptoms. If this is the case, it’s time to seek other treatment options for your hip impingement.

Advent Physical Therapy can help you learn what a hip impingement feels like and treat it, too

Are you looking for more information about what a hip impingement feels like? Do you need treatment for your symptoms? Our team at Advent Physical Therapy can help. We offer free screenings that can confirm if you have a hip impingement. This service also allows us to observe how your FAI is affecting you. With this information, our therapy specialists can build you a personalized treatment plan for your hip impingement and the symptoms it’s causing.

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your hip impingement. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule your free screening.
April 9, 2020
Do your hips feel stuck? Here’s what could be going on
If your hips feel stuck, it can be for a variety of reasons. Hips that feel stiff and immobile could be related to a degenerative condition such as arthritis, while the underlying cause could also be related to a hip impingement or hip dislocation if there is also pain involved.

The fact of the matter is that we need fully functioning hips to do anything, from walking to working around the house to doing nearly any job. If you find yourself with hips that feel stuck, it is highly recommended to seek prompt attention from a qualified professional.

For conditions affecting the hips, physical therapy can provide practical results by improving mobility, relieving pain and promoting the long-term function of your hips. By learning more about how therapists can identify and treat your condition if your hips feel stuck, you can take a more proactive role in your care.

Seeing a physical therapist for to get your hips moving again

When you first meet with a physical therapist, he or she will first want to gain a better understanding of what’s going on with your hips and gauge factors such as pain levels and range of motion. This is typically accomplished through a question-and-answer session, physical examination and movement tests.

Therapists have a number of tools at their disposal to improve hip mobility depending on the underlying cause. These include:
- Manual therapies, including joint and soft tissue mobilization
- Therapeutic exercises, including range-of-motion stretches and hip strengthening techniques
- Movement training to improve balance and stability
You can also work closely with your therapist to learn about and develop strategies that can help with hip mobility and health in the long term.

Hip relief at Back in Motion

If your hips are feeling stuck, our compassionate and experienced team can help. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized plan so you can get your hips moving and return to a healthy and active lifestyle that you’ve been missing.

Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial appointment with one of our friendly representatives.
April 8, 2020
How to release tight hips with therapeutic exercise
Hip tightness can be related to any number of issues ranging from injury to age-related conditions like arthritis. If tightness is accompanied by symptoms like pain and is preventing you from accomplishing the activities of daily living, then physical therapy can be a highly effective form of treatment. Physical therapists are experts in the functioning of the body’s musculoskeletal system and are trained in a number of methods that are designed to improve strength, range of motion and overall function.

If you want to know how to release tight hips through therapeutic exercise, take a few minutes to look over this quick and informative overview. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly representatives.

How therapeutic exercise helps to release tight hips

The first step to addressing hip tightness is for your physical therapist to perform a thorough assessment of your condition. There can be a wide range of causes for hip tightness, and your therapist needs to assess the specific causes for your symptoms. Factors can include muscle tightness, sprained ligaments, stiffness due to cartilage degeneration and many other issues.

Once your therapist has a better understanding of the specific causes of your hip problems, he or she can develop the right course of therapeutic exercises to release your tight hips. Physical therapy exercises for tight hips are generally designed to accomplish the following goals:
- Increase range of motion through active and passive stretches
- Strengthen supporting muscles through targeted exercises
- Increase stability and flexibility through movement training
In addition to therapeutic exercises, manual therapy techniques can help to release tight hips by mobilizing soft tissue and increasing blood flow to the area.

Find the hip mobility you need from the experts at SOL Physical Therapy

At SOL, our experts have a depth of experience in helping patients get the personalized care they deserve. We’ll help you develop a customized treatment plan designed to release hip tightness and address other issues related to a wide array of injuries and conditions.

Don’t let hip problems run your life. Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment at our state-of-the-art clinic.
April 5, 2020
Three tips you need to know for managing hip arthritis pain
Waking up to pain and stiffness in your hip. Feeling pain in the hip when walking or climbing stairs. Hip pain after sitting for a while. All these issues are ones people with hip arthritis can face on a daily basis.

It’s estimated that more than 54 million adults in the U.S. have some form of arthritis. Hip arthritis is more common in older people, and one medical study reveals that about 25% of people who live to age 85 will develop hip arthritis. Physical therapists can help you find tips for managing the pain and other symptoms of hip arthritis.

Three tips our therapists recommend for managing hip arthritis pain

For many patients, pain is the most common symptom of hip arthritis. In fact, a medical study reveals that 50% of adults with arthritis have pain on most or all days during a three-month period. Pain of this duration is known as persistent pain.

Our physical therapy specialists can offer hip arthritis patients a number of tips for managing their pain. Three of the most effective are:
1. Pay attention to your body — Many people, including arthritis patients, have gotten out of the habit of listening to their body. However, paying attention to what your hips are telling you can have many advantages for hip arthritis patients. It can help you learn your activity limits. This can help keep you from overdoing it and increasing your pain. Being attentive to your body can help you learn the best positioning for your arthritic hip. In turn, better positioning can make walking, sitting and standing up less painful.
1. Manage your weight — Researchers estimate that about 39 million arthritis patients are also overweight or obese. Most patients don’t realize how important managing their weight can be for reducing their pain. Medical studies show that just one pound of additional body weight can add four pounds of pressure to your joints. Conversely, every pound of weight lost reduces joint pressure by four pounds. In turn, the reduction in joint load can help decrease your arthritis pain.
1. Quit smoking — Smoking is known to cause issues like chronic lung diseases and cancer. But it can also cause your hip arthritis to worsen. A medical study reveals that people who smoke are more than twice as likely to have significant joint cartilage loss than nonsmokers. Additionally, this study reports that smokers had higher pain scores.
Advent Physical Therapy can help you manage your hip arthritis pain

Are you looking for help in managing your hip arthritis pain? Our Advent Physical Therapy team offers just the type of help you’re searching for. Our clinics offer free screenings that can reveal how hip arthritis is affecting you. With this information, our therapy specialists can build you a personalized treatment plan designed to manage or even reduce your arthritis symptoms.

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your arthritis. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule a free screening.
April 4, 2020
Hip arthritis treatment — why physical therapy?
Since it is so closely related to the natural aging process, arthritis of the hip is not a curable or reversible condition. This makes the primary goal of hip arthritis treatment managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life. With the main symptoms being aches, pains and stiffness, physical movement can become extremely difficult, but it’s important to stay active and mobile if you have been diagnosed with this condition.

This is where physical therapy comes in as a hip arthritis treatment. Working with a physical therapist can help you improve function and range of motion in the hips while reducing pain and inflammation. To give you a deeper understanding of what to expect from physical therapy and what the potential benefits are, we’re sharing the following information. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Seeing a physical therapist for hip arthritis treatment

While arthritis is not curable due to the inability of our joints to regenerate cartilage, physical therapists are trained in a number of techniques that are designed to work against the effects of joint degeneration and inflammation. These include:
- Manual therapies, including joint and soft tissue mobilization
- Trigger point therapy, to break up painful bundles of tissue
- Posture training, to more evenly distribute weight throughout the hips
- Strength and stability exercises, to relieve pressure on the hip joints
Everyone is different, so finding the right course of treatment should be seen as a collaborative effort between patient and therapist. A great way to help is keeping a symptom and treatment journal that can yield important information to your therapist about your progress.

Hip arthritis treatment at Back in Motion

Our team of clinicians has more than seven decades of combined experience in treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis of the hip. When you come to Back in Motion, you can expect one-on-one care, individualized treatment plans and a caring staff who will work to understand your needs so you can maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Contact us today to start your treatment journey. Our front desk coordinator will help you make your initial appointment at the clinic that is right for you.
March 10, 2020
Two stretches can reduce hip pain and stiffness after sitting
Sitting is something that many of us do regularly. We sit at work. We sit at home. We sit in our cars on the way to work. In fact, it’s been reported that adults in the U.S. sit for an average of 6.5 hours every day. This number is even higher for the average teenager, who typically spends 8 hours sitting every day.

Unfortunately, sitting down for long periods of time can lead to some distressing symptoms. Two of the most common symptoms are pain and stiffness in the hip after sitting. Physical therapists offer many options that can help reduce these sitting symptoms, and one of the most effective is therapeutic stretching exercises. Two such exercises can be particularly helpful if you find that sitting leads to hip stiffness and pain.

1. Kneeling hip flexor stretch

Hip flexors are muscles that help your leg bend and swing at the hip joint. These muscles could be the reason you’re feeling stiffness and pain in your hip after sitting for a while. One therapeutic exercise that can help rectify these symptoms is the kneeling hip flexor stretch.

How to do the kneeling hip flexor stretch
- Kneel down so that your right knee is touching the floor. You can kneel on a yoga mat to make this more comfortable.
- Place your left foot on the floor so that your left knee forms a 90-degree angle.
- Engage your glutes and thrust your hips forward until you feel a stretch in the top of your thigh. Make sure your back stays straight during this movement.
- Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Release the stretch and switch legs to stretch the hip flexors in your left leg.
- Continue to repeat the stretch until you’ve done three to five reps with each leg.
2. Butterfly stretch

Tightness in the adductor muscles along the inside of your thigh can also be a source of hip stiffness and pain after sitting. These muscles help pull the legs inward, which also rotates the hip joint inward. Stretching the hip adductors effectively requires an outward and downward force, and this is exactly the type of stretch that the butterfly stretch offers.

How to do the butterfly stretch
- Sit on the floor with your legs stretched straight out in front of you. Your torso should be as upright as possible.
- Draw your feet toward your body so that the soles are touching each other.
- Pull your heels as far back toward your body as possible.
- Lean forward slightly and place your elbows on your thighs. You should try to keep your back straight.
- Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. Push down lightly with your elbows for a deeper stretch.
- Repeat these steps until you’ve completed the stretch three to five times.
Border Therapy Services offers treatment for hip stiffness and pain after sitting

Are you regularly feeling hip stiffness and pain after sitting for a long time? Our experienced therapists at Border Therapy Services can help. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the source of your symptoms. Our team can also build you a personalized treatment plan for your hip symptoms.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
March 3, 2020