A Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling Hip Pain
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling Hip Pain

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling Hip Pain

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling 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 Expert Physio Plus, our clinicians can work with you 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 our multidisciplinary approach. Still have questions? Call us to schedule an appointment!

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Our Patients Get Great Results

“I had the pleasure of receiving treatment from Joanne today, and I am extremely impressed with her expertise and the results of the session. Joanne took the time to thoroughly assess my concerns and provided a tailored approach that led to significant relief. Her knowledge, professionalism, and ability to create a comfortable environment were evident throughout the session. I highly recommend Joanne to anyone seeking a skilled and compassionate osteopath. Thank you for your outstanding care! I also had the pleasure of working with Pierre for acupuncture and dry needling, and I am extremely impressed with the results. Pierre’s expertise and thorough understanding of these techniques helped address my concerns effectively. He took the time to explain the process and made sure I felt comfortable throughout the treatment. It really amazed me how he was able to find the perfect spot to put in the needles and relieve the tension in muscles. Overall a great experience at Expert Physio Plus! Very relaxing and very relieving!!” – T.G.

Pinpoint Your Symptoms

There are several potential reasons why someone might develop hip pain. To treat your pain effectively, we need to pinpoint what that cause could be.

When you visit us for your initial appointment, one of the first things we’ll do is ask you to share your symptoms. “Hip pain” often causes a lot more than just pain, and being able to describe your pain, mobility limitations, and other concerns helps us get a clearer picture of your condition.

For example, you know that your hip hurts. But when do you experience pain (i.e., during activity)? Does your pain come and go? Where do you experience pain? Is it just in your hip, or do you feel it elsewhere? Is the pain a dull ache? Sharp and shooting?

Make sure to share additional symptoms you might be experiencing, too. Here are some common ones:

  • Difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as putting on your shoes — and let us know which ones
  • Stiffness/limited range of motion in your hip
  • Weakness throughout the lower extremities
  • Mobility issues, including walking, going up or down stairs, or struggling to stand up 

Identify a Cause & Develop a Treatment Plan

Thanks to your detailed symptom description — as well as a health history and comprehensive physical exam — your clinician 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 massage therapy, osteopathic manual therapy, chiropractic adjustments, or other innovative techniques.
  • 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.

If you’re an athlete, we’ll ensure you can perform sport-specific movements and help you safely return to the game.

If you have osteoarthritis, we might recommend GLA:D, an 8-week exercise and education program specially designed for people with hip or knee arthritis.

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 on your treatment program (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 complete the full GLA:D 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.

Start Your Own Journey to Hip Pain Relief Today

No matter the reason for your hip pain, the clinicians at Expert Physio Plus will guide you toward lasting relief. Call us today to schedule an appointment to get started!

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How To Have a Great Summer!

The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer, and school is winding down. That means one thing: summer is on its way! Here are some tips to ensure a healthy summer for you and your family:

  • Drink plenty of water. While you should strive to stay hydrated all year round, it’s particularly important in warmer weather.
  • Ease back into summer activities gradually: Whether you’re hitting the pool more frequently or taking more evening walks thanks to the later sunsets, avoid doing too much too soon. Start slow, don’t push too hard, and remember to warm up first.
  • Don’t skip your PT sessions. We know summer’s busy. But keeping up with your therapy will help you stay active and pain-free throughout the season–and beyond!

Ready to make the most of the summer months? Schedule an appointment with our team today!

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Recipe of the Month: Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • Four 6-ounce chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 bunch asparagus
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ears corn, halved
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced green onion

Instructions:

  1. In a small bowl, stir together the butter, olive oil, garlic, ginger, honey and lime zest.
  2. Using 12-inch sheets of foil, build four packets. Place a chicken breast in the center of each. Season it with cumin and paprika. Divide the asparagus among the packets. Brush the chicken and asparagus with the honey-ginger sauce and season with salt and pepper. Fold the foil over the food inside and crimp several times to seal.
  3. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the packets until the chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
  4. About 5 minutes before the chicken is finished, add the corn to the grill and cook until it’s browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
  5. Garnish the chicken with cilantro and green onion before serving.

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

HEP stands for “home exercise program.” If you’re receiving care with Expert Physio Plus, there’s a good chance one of our clinicians 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 in our clinic
  • 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 generally experience 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.

In short, a HEP is a small way to make big changes! And if you think you might benefit from a personalized HEP, call us to schedule an appointment.

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