If you have chronic pain, you already understand how disruptive it can be in your daily life. It can make doing things you want to do, even around the house, extremely difficult! This is especially true if you have knee or hip pain.
The knee is a hinge joint, whereas the hip is a ball-and-socket joint. They are both complex joints that rely on a network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone, and cartilage to keep you moving.
With so many moving parts, it’s not surprising that we occasionally experience pain as we age or engage in strenuous activity. When you have hip or knee pain, it can make even the most basic daily tasks difficult.
Understanding the underlying causes of hip and knee problems is frequently the key to effective treatment. If you’re suffering from hip or knee pain, one of our in-home physical therapists can help you reduce or even eliminate your pain.
Call our clinic today to learn more about the benefits of in-home physical therapy and to schedule a visit from one of our Optimal Home Rehab therapists.
What causes hip and knee pain?
Hip and knee pain can be caused by a number of underlying conditions. Your physical therapist can determine and target the source of your pain, as well as teach you how to manage it.
Hip pain can be caused by a number of medical conditions as well as certain injuries. Tendon inflammation caused by over-exertion or an athletic injury can result in temporary or chronic hip pain. Tendinitis, dislocation, sprains, and pinched nerves can all cause or contribute to hip pain. Repetitive injuries or poor posture can also cause hip pain.
Knee Pain can be caused by injuries such as torn cartilage or damaged ligaments. Common knee injuries include fractures, tendinitis, and knee bursitis. Knee pain can range from mild to severe due to medical conditions such as arthritis or gout. You may have stiffness or swelling in one or both knees. Standing, walking, or fully straightening your knee may be difficult. Knees will occasionally make popping or crunching noises.
Other reasons you may be in pain
Hip and knee pain can be caused by a variety of issues. Some are caused by musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight, while others are caused by natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain could be caused by:
- Traumatic injuries, such as dislocation of the joint
- Postural/alignment issues that throw your body off balance, straining the knees or hips
- Bursitis, an inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs surround the joints
- Infections
- Runner’s knee, an instability of the kneecap
- Osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory condition involving deteriorated joint cartilage
- Tendinitis, or stretched ligaments
A physical therapist can frequently determine the source of your hip or knee pain based on its location. Pain along the inside of the hip, for example, is more likely to be caused by a problem with the bones or cartilage. Pain on the outside is usually caused by an issue with the muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Physical therapy at home for chronic hip and knee pain
Physical therapy is a non-invasive option for treating hip and knee pain. Your first session with our in-home physical therapists will almost certainly begin with an assessment. An evaluation for knee pain will most likely focus on the area from the hip to the foot. A spinal examination will almost certainly be part of a hip pain evaluation. All types of pain can benefit from a range of motion and strength assessment. Your physical therapist can perform gait analysis and mobility assessments.
Following that, an individualized physical therapy program will be developed for your specific needs. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, early rehabilitation for certain types of knee pain is linked to a lower use of opioids and knee surgery.
A variety of exercises are commonly used to treat hip pain. Passive measures such as icing or heat treatments can also relieve pressure. Soft tissue and joint manipulation in the hip or spine may be required to regain proper mobility and relieve pain.
Knee pain is also treated with a variety of exercises and stretches. The best part about our services is that you can get them all from the comfort of your own home.
Why should I choose in-home physical therapy?
There are other ways to deal with pain, but they aren’t always as effective in the long run as physical therapy.
Prescription pain relievers are occasionally used to treat knee and hip pain. Medication usually does not solve the problem, but only temporarily alleviates the pain. Medications, even OTC medications, can be addictive and costly.
Surgery recovery can be both painful and time-consuming. There is always the risk of infection, and surgery does not always produce the desired results. While surgery can be helpful in some cases, it has drawbacks and should only be used as a last resort.
The APTA has long praised physical therapy as one of the most holistic and safe forms of effective pain management. Still not convinced?
Ask your physical therapist about the recovery rates of our patients!
Choose safe and effective pain relief.
Follow all of your physical therapist’s instructions, including any stretches or exercises you can do at home, for the best results. Contact Optimal Home Rehab today to get started and schedule your first at-home visit! Physical therapy can help you find long-term relief from hip or knee pain.
