Conditions and Treatment
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the hip causes pain and stiffness. It can make it hard to do everyday activities like bending over to tie a shoe, rising from a chair, or taking a long walks. Because osteoarthritis gradually worsens over time, the sooner you start treatment, the more likely it is that you can lessen its impact on your life.
Our approach
We use joint mobilization to release the stiffness in the joint due to arthritic changes. This is followed by specific mobility exercises that help increase range of motion and flexibility, as well as strengthening exercises for the muscles in your hip. We develop an individualized exercise program that meets your needs and lifestyle.
Femoral anterior impingement (FAI)
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is pinching of the anterior tissues of the hip joint between the ball and socket hip joint.
This may be due to unstable and excessive movement of the ball in the socket of the joint or due to extra bone that may grow along one or both of the bones that form the hip joint. Over-time, this friction can damage the joint, causing pain, stiffness and limiting activity.
Our approach
We can help by strengthening exercises of the deep hip muscles that will restrain the movement of the ball in the socket of the hip joint. Alignment and postural changes are encouraged to avoid impinging positions like cross legged sitting and running with inward knees.
Piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle is a small muscle located deep in the buttock. Piriformis syndrome usually starts with pain, tingling or numbness in the buttocks. Pain can be severe and extend down the length of the sciatic nerve. The pain is due to the piriformis muscle compressing the sciatic nerve, such as while sitting on a hard seat or sprint running. Pain may also be triggered while climbing stairs, applying firm pressure directly over the piriformis muscle, or sitting for long periods of time.
Our approach
We use joint mobilization and soft tissue release to help relieve pain and increase range of motion.We then give you a program of stretching exercises to help reduce sciatic nerve compression.
Toning program for the abdominal deep muscles and hip deep rotators will help in long term maintenance of the program and prevent reoccurrence.
Trochanteric bursitis
Bursitis is a painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs, called bursae, that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints. Bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed. Causes of trochanteric bursitis include muscle tears, hip injuries, hip surgery complications, poor posture and diseases such as gout.
Moving your hip, particularly going down stairs, might make the pain worse. Pain is mostly felt when you lay on the side of your affected hip and when getting up from a chair. The joint becomes stiff, and the bursa itself is sensitive to touch.
Our approach
Treatment for trochanteric bursitis includes ice rest and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the inflammation. We then progress to give you mobility exercises to increase the flexibility and range of motion of the joint. Finally exercises to strengthening the hip muscles and postural correction helps in long term management and prevent reoccurrence.
Post fracture hip
A hip fracture almost always requires surgical repair or replacement, following which physical therapy is of utmost importance. Certain types of fractures may be considered stable enough to be managed with nonsurgical treatment. Others that are displaced or have chances of being displaced are operated on and fixed with screws, pins and plates.
Our approach
We treat with a gradual exercise program with the patient post-surgery to help regain strength and the ability to walk immediately after the operation. Initially gentle physiological hip movements are encourage followed by mobility exercises and finally working on strength program which will help return to normal function.
Hamstring injury
A pulled hamstring or strain is an injury to one or more of the muscles at the back of the thigh. Muscle strains are graded according to their severity. A grade 1 strain is mild and usually heals readily; a grade 3 strain is a complete tear of the muscle that may take months to heal. Hamstring muscle strains often occur when the muscle lengthens as it contracts.
Our approach
Our initial goals for a hamstring strain include restoring normal flexibility and ROM, regaining normal strength, controlling pain and swelling, and helping you get back to optimal function. This is achieved using soft tissue mobilization and exercises Ice and anti-inflammatory drugs will be of aide in early stages and to accelerate healing.
It is important to go through a rehabilitation program which would include hip and core strengthening, balance exercises, plyometrics to prevent re-occurrence of the injury.
