General muscle imbalance
A combination of weak and tight muscles originating and passing over the hip joint can create a painful hip. This includes gluteal (buttock) muscles, iliopsoas and rectus femoris muscles, adductor (groin) muscles, hamstrings, and quadriceps muscles. Post-operational hip replacements also create muscular imbalances, and appropriate assessment and treatment by your therapist can minimize pain and dysfunction. Treatment protocols include manual therapy, modalities, massage therapy, acupuncture, and exercise prescription.

Piriformis syndrome
This syndrome is due to irritation or tightening of the piriformis muscle located in the buttock. As a result, one can experience pain either locally at the hip, or as a radiating pain down the leg as a result of pinching of the sciatic nerve by this muscle. A variety of treatments available to reduce piriformis syndrome include manual therapy, modalities, massage therapy, acupuncture, and exercise prescription.

Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome
This syndrome is due to the irritation and/or tightening of the tensor fascia latae (TFL) and iliotibial (IT) band that runs along the lateral (outside) thigh and attaches to the patella (kneecap). As a result, one can experience pain along the lateral (outside) thigh, and also pain and/or clicking in the knee. Treatment protocols include manual therapy, modalities, massage therapy, acupuncture, and exercise prescription.

Trochanteric Bursitis
This syndrome is a result of irritation/inflamation of the fluid-filled sac (trochanteric bursa) on the hip. Common symptoms include localized pain in the hip region, and pain when lying on the affected side. A common approach to eliminate this condition is to reduce inflammation and decrease pressure on the bursa via medication/modalities/acupuncture, then to stretch/loosen tight muscles and restore muscle balance with exercises and manual therapy.

Strain/sprains
A common occurrence in a person’s daily life is strains/sprains of the groin, hip flexor, hamstring, and quadriceps muscles. Your therapist can assess the severity of the injury, and then proceed with the appropriate education and treatment. Available treatments are modalities, acupuncture, massage therapy, and manual therapy to reduce pain, inflammation and/or swelling, and exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles to permanently alleviate the problem.