The Power of Physical Therapy: Treating Hip Impingement and Preventing Reinjury
Physical therapy has been a great asset to those with hip impingement, helping patients achieve pain relief and improved mobility. It is important to understand the anatomy of the hip in order to determine what type of physical therapy treatment would be best for your individual condition. In this article we will explore how physical therapy helps people with hip impingement, what one might expect during physical therapy sessions, some exercises you might do as part of your treatment plan, estimated recovery time frames, and how physical therapy can help to prevent future re-injury.
Introduction
Hip impingement is an umbrella term for conditions that involve pain due to a narrowing of the space between two bones within the hip joint – usually involving the femur (thighbone) and the pelvic bone. Physical therapy is an effective treatment for hip impingement. Through a combination of stretches, exercises, and manual therapies performed by an experienced physical therapist, patients can find relief from the pain associated with hip impingement.
What to Expect in Physical Therapy?
At your first visit, your physical therapist will evaluate your hip’s mobility, strength, range of motion, and joint function, taking into account your medical history. They may also review imaging studies to aid in the assessment. Based on this evaluation, your physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan designed to assist you in reaching your goals.
Your treatment plan may require you to engage in therapeutic exercises tailored to your condition, which you can practice at home in addition to the hands-on treatment you will receive during your physical therapy sessions. Employing this method will enhance the therapy’s efficiency and ensure that you make meaningful progress toward recovery.
Keep in mind that working with your therapist over multiple sessions and following the treatment plan will bring about the most fruitful results in the shortest time possible.
What Types of Exercises Might You Do?
Your physical therapist may prescribe specific exercises depending on your condition and goals, but some common exercises for hip impingement include:
- Leg raises – This exercise helps improve hip strength and stability by targeting muscles in the glutes, hamstring, and quads.
- Hip flexor stretches – These stretches help to loosen tightness in the hips and increase the range of motion.
- Glute bridges – This exercise is designed to strengthen core muscles that support proper posture and alignment while standing or walking.
- Clamshells – This exercise strengthens hip abductors which helps to promote proper hip alignment.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
The length of recovery depends on the severity and chronicity of your condition. Generally, most people can expect to see improvements in pain levels and function within a few weeks of consistent physical therapy treatment. Your physical therapist will continuously reassess your progress throughout the course of your rehabilitation program to ensure that you are making steady progress toward meeting your goals.
How Does Physical Therapy Prevent Reinjury?
Physical therapists specialize in helping patients restore movement patterns while strengthening muscles and joints that may have been weakened or injured due to problems such as hip impingement. Through progressive exercise programs designed by an experienced physical therapist, you can work towards restoring optimal hip mobility, stability, and alignment. This can help to reduce the risk of reinjury in the future, as muscle and joint strength will be improved and movement patterns will be corrected.
Conclusion
Physical therapy effectively treats hip impingement, managing pain levels and improving function. A physical therapist can personalize a plan targeting all involved areas and suggest exercises to aid proper posture and alignment while strengthening muscles or joints. Consistent treatment yields improvements in a few weeks and can prevent re-injury.
