Physical Therapy Treatment for Hip Pain in Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Physical therapy treatment for hip pain in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, can help lessen pain, improve mobility, strengthen supporting muscles, and enhance overall function during daily activities. At SMC Physicians, we offer personalized rehabilitation programs for hip and pelvic conditions at our Egg Harbor Township physical therapy clinic.

Whether hip pain affects your ability to walk, climb stairs, exercise, sleep through the night, sit at work, or stand from a chair, we can help. A physical therapist will examine how your hip, pelvis, lower back, and surrounding muscles and ligaments are functioning before creating an effective treatment program.

What Can Cause Hip Pain?

Hip pain is most commonly associated with arthritis, muscle injuries or tendon strains, bursitis, joint impingement, overuse or repetitive movements, hip surgery, or pain that radiates from the lower back.

Your physical therapist can help determine where your hip pain may be coming from by evaluating the location and pattern of your symptoms. Certain injuries and conditions are characterized by pain along particular lines of travel. For example, osteoarthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, and loss of movement as the tissues within the joint change over time.

Muscle or tendon strains can occur when those soft tissues are stretched beyond their limits or torn during sports, exercise, improper lifting techniques, or sudden movements. Injuries often cause pain along the muscle or tendon immediately after an acute injury occurs.

• Hip strains
• Pain outside of the hip
• Groin pain, clicking, or stiffness

Can Physical Therapy Help With Hip Pain?

Physical therapy can help manage many causes of hip pain, including sports injuries, arthritis, and recovery following hip surgery. Treatment is most effective when it targets specific limitations that may be contributing to your symptoms, such as weakness, stiffness, lack of mobility, balance issues, and poor movement mechanics.

A physical therapist will evaluate your range of motion, strength, posture, mobility, and ability to perform daily activities. Based on this evaluation, your therapist can develop a personalized rehabilitation program focused on:

• Relieving pain
• Improving mobility
• Restoring function
• Improving strength and flexibility
• Helping prevent further injury

Hip pain treatment is individualized based on the cause of your symptoms, your current physical abilities, and your goals. If returning to an activity such as tennis is one of your goals, your physical therapist can take that into consideration when developing your treatment and home exercise program.

Treatment may include:

• Hip strengthening exercises
• Stretching and mobility exercises
• Postural awareness
• Manual therapy, including massage and manipulation

How Long Does Physical Therapy Take?

The length of physical therapy for hip pain varies based on your condition, individual limitations, response to treatment, and rehabilitation goals.

You may start experiencing a reduction in pain immediately after your first visit, but those with severe restrictions may require weeks or months of therapy to fully recover. Healing from an injury takes time, and your therapist can help support the recovery process.

What Exercises Are Used for Hip Pain?

Physical therapy exercises for hip pain vary depending on the cause of your symptoms, your current abilities, and your rehabilitation goals. Your physical therapist can select and progress exercises based on how you respond to treatment.

Depending on your condition, a rehabilitation program may include strengthening exercises, stretching and mobility exercises, balance and stability training, and exercises designed to improve functional movement.

Your physical therapist can also provide guidance on which exercises are appropriate to perform at home as part of your rehabilitation program.

Treating Hip Pain with Physical Therapy

Yes, physical therapy can help people living with hip arthritis regain strength and function. While therapists cannot reverse the structural changes within your joint, treatment may help you perform your favorite activities with less pain.

A physical therapist may recommend exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles around your hip joint, along with modifications to daily activities that may help reduce pain. Treatment may also address weakness or movement limitations in other areas of the body, such as the spine and lower extremities, that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Will Physical Therapy Hurt My Arthritis?

Due to the structural changes that occur with osteoarthritis, certain exercises may increase arthritis pain. It’s important to let your physical therapist know if a particular movement causes increased joint pain.

A knowledgeable physical therapist can select and modify exercises based on your symptoms, mobility, strength, and response to treatment. Your program may include low-impact cardiovascular exercise along with other activities designed to improve strength, mobility, and function without unnecessarily aggravating your symptoms.

Can Physical Therapy Help After Hip Surgery?

Physical therapy can play an important role in recovery following hip surgery. A personalized rehabilitation program can help you rebuild strength, improve range of motion, and restore function following procedures such as hip replacement.

During rehabilitation, you’ll learn how to safely perform everyday activities while your surgeon permits increased movement. Everything is progressive, so you won’t be asked to do anything that causes increased pain or might interfere with your recovery.

How Long Is Rehab After Hip Surgery?

Hip physical therapy exercises are progressed each week depending on how you respond to treatment and if you’re experiencing pain. The duration of physical therapy after hip surgery depends on several factors and there is no set timeline for recovery.

Following hip surgery, your rehabilitation program may include:

• Walking
• Balance and posture improvement
• Strength building
• Mobility/stability training
• Functional exercise progression
• Bed exercises

Can Athletes Receive Physical Therapy for Hip Pain?

Definitely! Athletes can benefit from physical therapy for many of the same reasons as non-athletes. Sports injuries, overuse conditions, and arthritis can and do affect athletic populations.

Physical therapy for athletes can help improve movement, reduce pain, and enhance sports performance. Working with a therapist can also help you return to sports more safely and prevent reinjury.

Should I Go To PT or See a Doctor For Hip Pain?

If hip pain is affecting your mobility, daily activities, or ability to exercise, a physical therapist can evaluate your movement and help determine an appropriate rehabilitation plan based on your symptoms and goals.

To learn more about physical therapy treatment for hip pain in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, call SMC Physicians at (609) 770-7804 or use our online appointment request form.