Reduce hip and knee pain significantly with physical therapy

Both the hips and knees are areas in the body where several muscles, tendons and ligaments are joined together to help you achieve complex movement. Damage and subsequent pain in these joints can make it difficult to perform daily activities.

Dealing with hip and knee discomfort is far too common among Americans. Medical researchers estimate that up to 15% of adults over 60 suffer from hip pain, and reports show that about 25% of people suffer from knee pain. There are several specific ways that physical therapy can help reduce hip and knee pain.But first, your physical therapist will have to determine what’s causing your pain.

Common conditions that cause hip and knee pain

There are several specific conditions that often affect the knees and hips. A physical therapist can evaluate you to find out what issues are responsible for your hip and knee pain. A few of the common causes of pain in these joints include: 

• Arthritis — Arthritis is any of more than 100 conditions that involves inflammation of tissue that surrounds the joints. This condition commonly affects the hips and knees. Medical studies report that 18.5% of men and 28.6% of women are likely to develop hip osteoarthritis. Other studies show that 10% of men and 13% of women develop knee osteoarthritis. 

• Strains and sprains — Strains happen when a muscle or tendon is stretched excessively or torn. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments may even rupture, causing bruising, pain and limited mobility. 

• Meniscus tears — This is one of the most common knee injuries people experience. Researchers reveal that up to 14% of people develop meniscus tears annually. A torn meniscus can cause stiffness, swelling and varying degrees of pain. This condition could be the result of a sudden injury or repetitive motions. You’re at higher risk if you’re engaging in aggressive pivoting and twisting of your legs.

How physical therapy can treat your hip and knee pain

No matter what condition you have, a physical therapy program can help relieve your pain. Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and create an individualized program to meet your specific needs. Range-of-motion and strength measurements may be taken during the physical therapy evaluation. 

Here are several treatment methods our physical therapists use to help decrease both knee and hip pain:

• Manual therapy — Your physical therapist may use several hands-on techniques to reduce your hip and knee symptoms. This could include using their hand to stretch or manipulate the affected joint.

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — Your physical therapist may need to apply therapeutic pressure to the soft tissue around your knee or hip. In this case, they’ll likely use a technique called IASTM. This involves the use of specially designed tools. Your physical therapist will apply pressure to the targeted tissue using these tools, which can help reduce tension and break up scar tissue. 

• Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist can teach you therapeutic exercises that can alleviate hip and knee discomfort. These exercises can also be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.

Turn to Peak Performance for hip and knee pain treatment

Are you ready to have less hip and knee pain? Our therapy specialists at Peak Performance are primed to help you find physical therapy that can help decrease your pain. We offer free screenings that can reveal the root cause of your joint pain. Then, our team can build you an individualized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and improve your joint mobility. 

Want to get our help from home? Now you can! We offer virtual therapy sessions that allow you to work with our therapy specialists over a secure video feed. Additionally, our team doesn’t require that you have a doctor’s recommendation before beginning your physical therapy. 

Don’t wait to start getting help with your hip and knee issues. Contact us today for more information about how we can help you or to schedule an initial appointment.