Proper Recovery for Hip Impingement with Physical Therapy
Hip impingement is a term describing the anatomical change in the hip joint when the thigh bone meets the pelvis and specific tissue is being ‘impinged’ or pinched in a way, causing hip pain. This pain often presents as groin pain, thigh pain, or even lateral hip discomfort. Common symptoms can include pinching in the front of the hip, a dull deep ache through your hip joint, and possibly clicking or popping in your hip. The tissue being impinged can be a combination of things, but most commonly it is due to bone morphology on the pelvis or femur changing how your hip joint interacts as you move. There can also be soft tissue impingement, which may cause the popping symptoms.
Now before we go any further with this topic, it is very important to know that this bone morphology is VERY common. A lot of individuals have these changes confirmed by X-rays or MRI but are completely asymptomatic (no pain at all)! This is wonderful news, because if you ARE dealing with pain that presents like what I described, you have a very good chance you can also become PAIN FREE.
So, how do you treat it? There are numerous resources online as I’m sure you are well aware, but as always my first recommendation is to seek a trusted healthcare professional to assist you in gaining the optimal results you desire and deserve to get back to moving at your best! Though there may be bone changes as I mentioned above, what can change is the mechanics of movement. Most commonly, there are muscles across the hip joint that are inherently weak and others that are in a protective state and stiff. Addressing these items along with utilizing other personalized treatment options to best improve your function is a great place to start. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t improve in the first couple of days. Historically, improving these mechanics can take months, but with the appropriate program and plan in place you should be able to speed up this process!
Have more questions about how physical therapy can help hip impingement pain? I would be happy to chat further about how Loon State Physical Therapy can be your teammate in getting you back to moving and feeling your best! Call us at (612) 405-8503 or book with us online for an in-person or virtual appointment.
Until next time!
Andrew Eccles
Owner and Physical Therapist at Loon State Physical Therapy
