Do you experience hip pain while enjoying leisurely walks, climbing stairs, or bending down? Hip pain can significantly limit your ability to perform and enjoy daily activities. Fortunately, physical therapy at Professional Care can help you find relief and get back to doing what you love!

Understanding Your Hip Joints

Your hips are ball-and-socket joints, where your femur (thigh bone) fits into your pelvis (hip socket). A cushion of cartilage in your hips prevents friction as your hip bone moves within the socket. Pain can occur if this cartilage wears down or is damaged due to age, injury, or overuse.

There are several reasons why you may be experiencing hip pain, and our team will work with you to determine the specific factors causing yours:

• Arthritis
  Osteoarthritis is a common cause of hip pain, particularly in older adults. It occurs when the protective cartilage in the hip joint wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
• Tears and Ruptures
  Ligaments and cartilage in the hips can tear due to injury or overuse, causing pain and instability.
• Strains
  Sudden or repetitive activities can strain or inflame the muscles and tendons around the hip joint, resulting in pain.
• Bursitis
  Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion between the bones, tendons, and muscles near the hip. Bursitis, or inflammation of these sacs, can cause pain and tenderness in the hip.

Addressing Your Hip Pain with Physical Therapy

The good news is that physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for hip pain, regardless of the cause. Our PTs will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment program based on the underlying cause of your pain. We can offer:

• Pain Relief
  Specialized techniques, such as manual therapy, joint mobilizations, and soft tissue techniques, can help improve blood flow, free up tension or restriction in movement, and reduce pain in the affected areas.
• Mobility Work
  Prescribed exercises to improve movement and range of motion in the hip joint.
• Strengthening Exercises
  Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, providing support and stability for a successful recovery.

We extend our gratitude to Dr. Christoforou for his enlightening presentation to our Islip Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy staff! As a hand and upper extremity orthopedist from Orthopedic Associates of Long Island, Dr. Christoforou shared valuable insights on cases and positive outcomes for patients dealing with:

• Ulnar drift deformity
• Amputations
• Syndactyly (a congenital condition that results in fused or webbed fingers or toes, occurring when digits do not separate in the womb)

In addition to his medical practice on Long Island, Dr. Christoforou devotes his time and expertise each year to the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation. Collaborating with the foundation and the American Society of Hand Surgery, he travels to the region with a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, therapists, nurses, and other volunteers from across the United States and Canada. Over the years, this mission has delivered crucial treatment to children with upper limb injuries and congenital anomalies. However, the mission extends beyond medical care; it also includes community engagement initiatives such as building schools and homes, as well as establishing sanitation systems and stoves.