Blog

By Maggie Gebhardt, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

The hip joint can be a source of pain for many people and the reason why can often be confusing. The most common thing we think of when it comes to hip pain is arthritis. However, there are many different causes of hip pain not related to arthritis at all. These injuries can happen to the everyday person who likes to participate in recreational sports: the weekend runner, the high school ballet dancer, the neighborhood tennis league participant, etc.
The hip joint connects the lower leg to the pelvis and back. It is supported by many muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and inert structures that allows it to have the range of motion, stability, and flexibility that we require of it. It is a hip that is often painful and injured as a result of overuse, biomechanical faults, or traumatic activities. The pain is not arthritic in nature and therefore the treatment option is not a replacement. However, it can still be very uncomfortable and limit your ability to participate in your recreational activities.
Patients who have these non-arthritic hip complaints will often have the same story of a prolonged diagnosis, differing diagnoses, numerous diagnostic tests, and often failed attempts at conservative management. The good news is that with a thorough evaluation including a variety of Physical Therapy assessment tools it can be accurately diagnosed.
Some of the non-arthritic hip conditions are labral tears, impingement, bursitis, and IT band syndrome just to name a few. There are many different variables that can affect the nature of the injury and these must all be taken into consideration when determining the best course of treatment. Physical Therapy should be an integral part of a patient’s comprehensive hip plan of care. If you are having hip pain, you should consult your Physical Therapist, so that they can begin the process of getting you back out there no matter what your activity may be!