Hip Pain

Understanding and Treating Hip Pain

The signs and symptoms of a broken hip can be similar to the symptoms of a pulled muscle, or even to a tear in the hip since they are all lower extremity injuries. If anyone experiences pain in the hip, it is important to go see a doctor right away.

No matter the level of pain, you should seek medical attention so they are able to properly diagnose what the pain is being caused from. In some cases, the hip may only hurt when there is pressure or weight on it, but in any case you should get the hip looked at. Hip pain can usually be diagnosed in a routine doctor’s visit. The physician will physically examine the hip and may also order some tests such as an x-ray or an MRI. It is absolutely essential for you to push your doctor to give you more tests, even a bone density test since most insurance will pay for it.

Treatment and Management

When your hip hurts, it can seriously affect your quality of life, limiting movement and your ability to do everyday activities. At Doveston Health, we specialize in finding out what is causing your hip pain and putting together a complete program of treatment to get you back to normal and pain-free.

The foundation of any good treatment plan is a proper assessment to determine the cause of your hip pain. There are many factors that can cause hip pain including arthritis, muscle imbalances, or gait issues that can affect the mechanics of your hips. The diagnosis of hip pain is often very easy and can be done by a doctor, an x-ray, and a physical therapist. From this diagnosis, a physical therapist can then determine the best course of treatment, which is a team effort that includes a combination of physical therapy exercises that support greater motion and hip muscle strengthening exercises; physical therapists love using manual hands-on therapy, massage, or kinesio tape to decrease pain and improve muscle function; and, in some cases, physical therapists may also recommend the use of orthotics to align the hips better and lifestyle changes to help off-load or reduce stress on the hips.

Overall Health and Wellness

Health is built on a foundation of nutritious food, good sleep, peace, and relaxation and the prevention of chronic diseases in the future. If you need advanced surgery, you will be operated on by a specialist after we refer you to the right specialist.

At Doveston Health, we can help you achieve better hip health with effective treatment and ongoing support throughout.