How Physical Therapy Tackles Hip Pain

You want to take care of some chores or go for a walk — but hip pain is keeping you on the couch. If this sounds familiar, know that you don’t have to suffer! At Breckenridge Physical Therapy, our physical therapists will guide you through a simple process to address your hip pain so you can get active again.

This newsletter will take you through that process, from understanding your symptoms to the outcomes you can expect from physical therapy. Still have questions? Call us to schedule an appointment!

Our Patients Get Great Results

“I cannot express my appreciation enough for the kind staff at Breckenridge PT (Vail-Summit PT). While visiting from out of town, I was able to get an expedited appointment which fit my busy schedule and receive excellent treatment. Olivia Lent, PT DPT ATC was phenomenal. She was able to pin-point my issue and did not hesitate to take aggressive action to right my problems. She was thorough and compassionate about her care. Thank you all again for the excellent services and I wish you all the best!”

– J.G.

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Identify a Cause and Develop a Treatment Plan

Thanks to your detailed symptom description — as well as a health history and comprehensive physical exam — your therapist should be able to determine the underlying cause of your hip pain.  If you’re 55 or older, there’s a good chance your hip pain stems from osteoarthritis. This degenerative condition causes cartilage and bone tissue to break down, leading to pain and restricted mobility. 

However, hip pain can also stem from an injury. If you’re an athlete or particularly active person, you may have suffered an acute injury, such as a labral tear, in which a ring of cartilage in the hip socket becomes damaged. You may have also sprained your hip — that is, damaged the ligaments that hold the joint together. However, even if you haven’t had an obvious injury, an injury could still be to blame. Overuse injuries are injuries that develop gradually and, in the hip, generally affect the soft tissue — your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They usually occur due to repetitive movements or improper biomechanics. Your treatment plan will vary based on the underlying cause of your pain, but in most cases, we aim to…

• Help manage acute pain with manual therapy, modalities, or gentle stretches.
• Improve mobility and range of motion through targeted stretches and exercises.
• Build strength in the muscles surrounding the hip to support the joint.
• Restore your ability to perform everyday movements, such as going upstairs — and for the athletes, we’ll help restore your ability to perform sport-specific movements.

Understand Your Outcomes

As with treatments, your exact outcomes will vary based on the underlying cause. However, other factors can come into play, too, such as age, health status, and the amount of time you can spend with physical therapy (whether in the clinic or performing home exercise programs).

For example, osteoarthritis has no cure, but you can manage your symptoms with regular physical activity. If you stick with your prescribed exercise program, you can minimize pain, slow the progression of your condition, and delay or even avoid surgery.

If you suffered an injury, you likely will be able to resolve your hip pain, usually within 1-3 months. However, if your injury was severe, full rehabilitation — the point at which you’ve fully restored strength and function — may take longer. Continuing any prescribed exercises is important even if you no longer feel pain.

Meet Our Team

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Dr. Alexander Kuck

PT, DPT, C-PS

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Dr. Ellie Allan

PT, DPT, C-PS

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Dr. Justin Welch

PT, DPT, C-PS

Recipe of the Month: Blueberry Muffin Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2/3 cup (135g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup (80ml) milk, at room temperature
• 1 and 1/2 cups (210g) fresh blueberries
• Optional: 2 Tablespoons blueberry jam and/or crumb topping

Instructions:

1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
3. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until no flour pockets remain. Fold in the blueberries.
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes, loosely covering the bread with aluminum foil at the 30 minute mark to help prevent the top and sides from getting too brown. A toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf will come out clean when the bread is done. Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack.
5. Cover and store bread at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

What’s A HEP — And Why Is It So Important to Your Success?

HEP stands for “home exercise program.” If you’re undergoing physical therapy with Breckenridge Physical Therapy, there’s a good chance your therapist will prescribe one to you. It’s important to note that a HEP isn’t the same as an at-home workout program. With an at-home workout, your goal is general fitness. A HEP consists of curated exercises to help you achieve your rehabilitation goals. We understand that an exercise routine can sometimes be difficult to work into a busy lifestyle. Therefore, we design our HEPs to be as straightforward as possible, with…

• Exercises you’ve done before
• A small time commitment
• Strategies for managing pain, if needed

However, we also want to make sure you understand why we prescribe a HEP at all! In fact, a HEP has multiple benefits:

1. It improves outcomes: Patients who complete their prescribed HEP experience faster and more effective rehabilitation.
2. It improves muscle memory: This means movements will become easier, and you’ll be able to more easily incorporate additional exercises during your in-clinic sessions.
3. It helps develop a good habit: Even after you recover, regular physical activity is essential for good health. By completing your HEP, you get into the habit of moving daily.