Category Archives: Hip

They Said They “Pinned” My Mother’s Hip – What Does That Mean?

“Pinning” is shorthand for surgical repair of a broken hip . In all likelihood, your mother suffered a fracture at or near where the femur (the large bone at the top of the leg) enters the hip joint. Also called “internal fixation,” this common procedure involves stabilizing the broken bones with steel rods, screws and/or […]

Hip Resurfacing: An Alternative to Hip Replacement

If your surgeon has suggested “resurfacing” your hip, he or she probably believes you are a good candidate for a newer procedure that has gained popularity in the past few years: hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Unlike a traditional hip replacement, where the entire head of the femur (the long bone in your thigh that fits into [...]

New Hip? Keep Up the Workouts

Total hip replacement has become a more common remedy for hip deterioration and pain in recent years. However, most physicians recommend continuing physical therapy afterward. Isn’t healing from the surgery enough? While total hip replacement is no excuse for avoiding activities that help you stay healthy and fit, many people who have had a total [...]

Get Hip to the Source of Groin Pain

Groin pain can have many causes, including a pulled muscle, hernia or pinched nerve in the back. However, one of the most common causes of groin pain is actually hip pain that is “referred” to the groin. While we usually associate our hip with the outside of the hip bone, the hip joint is actually […]

Strong Hips = Strong Knees

If you are undertaking a physical therapy program for knee pain or injury, it might strike you as odd that so much focus is put on increasing strength and flexibility in your hips. After all, your hips aren’t the problem. But here’s something you may not know: While your pain and difficulty moving may be […]

Getting Hip to Arthroscopic Surgery

Much like surgery of the shoulder or knee, arthroscopic hip surgery is finding more and more favor among surgeons. It is utilized when painful hip conditions fail to respond to more conservative nonsurgical remedies. Arthroscopic surgery can be used to address damage to the labrum, articular cartilage, and surrounding soft tissue and muscle to reduce […]

Get Hip (and Knee) to Total Joint Replacement Surgery

Does it seem as though everyone is having a total joint replacement? Well, not only are older Americans taking advantage of total knee or hip replacement but younger patients—especially the athletically driven baby-boomer generation—are opting to have the surgery as well. Total joint replacement involves surgically removing parts of an arthritic or damaged joint and […]

All About Hip Impingements & How Physical Therapy Can Help

Femoracetabular Impingement (FAI): The Pain of a Pinching Hip If you’ve been feeling a sharp pinch or a deep ache in your hip, it might be due to a condition called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This discomfort, often described as a “pinching” sensation, can make simple daily activities, like walking, sitting, or even sleeping, feel uncomfortable. […]

It Is Hip to Keep Moving

As we age, some things seem inevitable. Our hair gets grayer, our skin begins to wrinkle and (hopefully) we gain the perspective of a life well lived. But there is one thing that does not need to be inevitable: hip pain. While tightness in the hips is a common problem in the senior set, hip […]

Be Hip to Metal-on-Metal Implants

If you have had a hip replaced with a metal-on-metal (MoM) implant, you may be concerned about reports of health problems with this type of artificial joint. Hip implants are fabricated from metal, plastic, ceramic or a combination of materials. Each type has risks and benefits, and it is up to you and your surgeon […]