Hip Physical Therapy in Berkeley Heights

Hip pain affects 7% of adults in the U.S and can cause significant pain, stiffness, and swelling that weakens your entire lower body. Fortunately, physical therapists have developed numerous techniques to mitigate hip pain and restore mobility. 

What Causes Hip Pain?

While there are numerous risk factors for developing acute or chronic hip pain. Accidental injury, repetitive actions found in many sports, and aging can all lead to the development of hip pain or stiffness. If you’ve been struggling with pain in or around your hip, you may be experiencing:

• Bursitis: a condition caused by inflamed bursae - small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, muscles, and tendons around your joints.

• Arthritis: an inflammatory or degenerative condition that causes pain, swelling, and loss of motion in the hip.

• Piriformis Syndrome: a neuromuscular disorder that is caused by the piriformis muscle, a small muscle located deep in the buttock, placing pressure on the sciatic nerve. 

• Sciatica: the sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body, branching from the lower back, through the hips, and into the legs. Irritation, inflammation, or pressure to the sciatic nerve can cause pain that radiates along the entire nerve, even into the feet. 

How Physical Therapists Can Help

The field of physical therapy has developed numerous techniques to reduce hip pain and improve the range of movement in the joint. While treatment plans are tailored to individual patients, a typical physical therapy appointment for hip pain may include:

• Gait evaluation

• Functional mobility exercises

• Manual stimulation or massage

• Stretching regimens

• Low-intensity weight training to build underdeveloped muscles

If you’re suffering from hip pain and seeking relief, consider asking your doctor about physical therapy. As experts in movement and joint function, physical therapists can guide you along the path to total recovery.