Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

The Sound of Music (in your Hip?)

Snapping hip syndrome, also called dancers’ hip, is a snapping sensation or popping sound heard in the hip while walking, flexing or extending the limbs. This condition can cause discomfort and pain. The good news is that this can be resolved with physical therapy.

Causes

There are several different causes of snapping hip syndrome. These include, but are not limited to:

Extra-articular (outside the joint structure) causes. This occurs on the lateral (outside) or medial (inside) aspect of the knee.
Intra-articular (inside the joint) causes. This occurs when there is a tear or presence of loose bodies inside the joint. This can cause effusion (fluid) buildup. This causes the snapping hip syndrome.
Symptoms

Discomfort in the hip
Stiffness
Pain
Snapping or popping of the hip with some movements
Diagnosis and Treatment

A careful clinical examination and manipulation of the hip joints is completed by a physical therapist. Some of the diagnostic tools include:

Ultrasound
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Treatment of Snapping Hip Syndrome
The treatment of snapping hip syndrome involves a combination of physical therapy, traditional medicine, and at times, surgery.

Physical Therapy: The use of ‘Hydration, Ibuprofen, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation’ (also known as HI-RICE) provides the patient with temporary relief in the acute stages. It is best to consult with a physician before taking any medication to rule out allergies and associated side effects. Expert supervision by the physical therapist is essential for gradual healing of the affected regions.

Traditional Medicine: A physician may recommend prescription medications for pain relief and reduction of inflammation. Corticosteroids injections are commonly prescribed. Talk to your physician about which medication is best for you.

Surgical Interventions: If a structural anomaly is causing the problem, surgery may be needed. In general, surgery is the last resort, when traditional medicine and physical therapy have failed. After surgery, physical therapy plays a critical role in the restoration of strength and flexibility.

If you believe you have snapping hip syndrome, and HI-RICE does not help, reach out to your physical therapist.

Snapping You Back Into Action!

Physical therapy provides exciting possibilities to promote strengthening, healing and rehabilitation of the hip and lower limbs. Here are some of the options in the arsenal of the physical therapist:

Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
Manipulative therapy that includes stretching and massage.
Resistance training to build the muscle strength.
Cold compress for acute injuries and heat to relax muscular spasms.
Low level laser use for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
Functional electrical stimulation to restore strength in the muscles.
The sooner the therapist assesses the injury and initiates treatment, the better the outcome. Some home remedies that the physical therapist may prescribe include:

Active stretching
Passive stretching
Strengthening exercises
Light aerobics
Don’t let snapping hipping syndrome (or any hip condition) hold you back from freedom of movement.

Call us today, and we will help you snap back into action as quickly as possible. We hope this is music to your ears!

www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Pre and Post-operative Physical Therapy for Total Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement (THR) is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged hip joint with a new artificial/prosthetic implant. Physical therapy is essential before and after surgery in order to minimize complications. Therapy also reduces recovery time and restores hip joint function as quickly as possible.

Musculo-skeletal conditions that may require THR

An impaired hip joint can result in pain and motion restriction for daily activities like sitting, standing, walking and commuting. Some of the conditions that could potentially damage the hip joint include:

Trauma
Tumors
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteonecrosis

Signs and symptoms include moderate to severe hip pain and joint stiffness. Since the hip is a weight bearing joint, pain and discomfort in this region can interfere with the ability to walk and result in gait imbalances.

This can trigger several biomechanical adjustments in the lower body and lead to low back pain, knee pain and ankle pain. Over a period, this can cause several limitations in function. It is important to consult with a physician and detect hip joint abnormalities as soon as possible to prevent long-term damage.

Benefits of Physical Therapy

In the event of a scheduled THR surgery, physical therapy can speed up healing and rehabilitation of the hip joint before and after surgery.

Before surgery

A baseline measurement of the strength and flexibility is performed. The patient is educated about precautions to take prior to the surgery and positions / movements to avoid after surgery. Objects and furniture may need to be re-arranged to make sure important objects are within reach.

After surgery

Several procedures and modalities can be used by the physical therapist to facilitate recovery after surgery. These include:

Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
Manipulative therapy that includes stretching and massage.
Resistance training to build muscle strength.
Cold compress and heat to relax muscle spasms.
Low-level laser use for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
Functional electrical stimulation to restore muscle strength.
The Importance of the Initial Evaluation
Your physical therapist understands that when it comes to your recovery, every little detail matters. That is the reason your therapist will conduct a detailed initial evaluation. This includes objective measurements of the strength, flexibility, and mobility of the hip joints.

The physical therapist will identify functional limitations of the patient and establish a gap between the prior level of function and intended level of function.

Once the physical therapist determines this gap and analyzes diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRI scans, an effective treatment program can be created. This consists of specific procedures and modalities.

Treatment for mild hip problems is generally conservative. It includes medications and physical therapy. Physical therapy can also help before and after THR surgery. After a brief period of hospitalization, the patient may need several weeks, potentially months of physical therapy to achieve full recovery.

If you or someone you know is complaining of hip pain, call our office today. We will do everything we can to help.

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