If physical activity plays an important role in your lifestyle, you have no doubt had your share of aches and pains, and most go away on their own. But habitually ignoring pain may cause you to overlook important symptoms that signal a serious degenerative condition that should be treated. Certain types of hip pain in particular can indicate a worsening overuse injury that could become debilitating if ignored.
As a large ball-and-socket joint, your hip joint has the unique ability to move in multiple planes, with a broad range of motion. Designed for repetitive motion, proper hip function depends on good pelvic stability and a strong core. As part of the lower kinetic chain, the hip can be affected by misalignments of the knee and ankle, and vice versa. Because of its proximity to the lumbar spine, hip dysfunction can cause low back pain.
The hip joint is formed by the head of the femur serving as the ball, and the acetabulum of the pelvis forming the socket. The joint is held securely in place by ligaments. The hip joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane that produces synovial fluid for lubrication of the joint. Fluid-filled bursa sacs cushion areas of friction between muscles, tendons, and bones. The pelvic and thigh bones are covered with cartilage at the ends for further protection. However, overuse and aging can lead to wear and tear that reduces function and causes pain in the groin and hip.
After vigorous exercise, it is not uncommon to experience delayed onset muscle soreness in the hip region, which usually diminishes and disappears in a few days’ time. However, chronic pain that persists for weeks or months should not be ignored. What begins as a minor overuse injury can escalate to a major problem if left untreated.
Pay particular attention to these five hip pain symptoms:
- Pain that persists for longer than a month
- Pain radiating from the hip to the groin
- Hip and/or groin pain during physical activity, sitting, sleeping or driving
- Hip and/or groin pain with leg lifts or hip flexion
- Reduced hip range of motion and stiffness in the joint
These symptoms can indicate a number of conditions, many of which can be treated and remedied with physical therapy in the early stages. The longer you put off treatment, the more difficult it will be to rehabilitate a damaged hip.
If you are experiencing ongoing hip pain symptoms, the physical therapy team at NYDNR can put you on the road to recovery. We use cutting edge technologies and innovative therapies that cannot be found in most rehab clinics.
Some of our rehab tools include:
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