Justine Prestifilippo, PT, DPT Justine is a therapist at our Lafayette Hill clinic location. Read her full profile here: FEATURED PT
Relieving Your Hip And Knee Pain
1. How did you decide to become a physical therapist and what motivates you to work with patients? I decided that I wanted to become a PT after having years of PT as an injured dancer. I had one amazing PT who, for lack of better words, helped me get my life back and I realized I wanted to be that amazing PT in someone else’s life. This is
Your hips, knees and lower legs are tough—but injuries happen. Your hips and knees are your largest joints which support the body’s weight. They work in close coordination, giving us mobility. However, due to injuries, age and arthritis, pain can flare up. What Causes Hip and Knee Pain? Hip and knee pain are surprisingly common. Thus, their source can occur due to a variety of causes. If you are experiencing pain in any part of your leg, pinpointing the exact spot can also help determine the cause. The Mayo Clinic has detailed several leading causes of hip and knee pain. While many causes exist, the most likely are:
also what motivates me. She had such an impact on not only my rehab and returning me to my usual activities, but also on my mood. I strive to do the same thing for all of my patients.
2. In your words, what makes Excel Physical Therapy different from other physical therapy clinics? Excel stands out because they truly value the importance of one on one time. This allows us to actually spend time working with, and getting to know our patients, ensuring their program is exactly what they need to achieve goals that are meaningful to them. Excel also values continuing education, which is so important as there is always something new to be learned to ensure we are providing the best care possible. 3. What was your most memorable patient experience? I worked with one patient during a clinical rotation while in PT school who was a young ballerina. She will always stand out to me because she was the first dancer patient I got to work with and I saw a lot of myself in her. I was able to use my past experience to help tailor her rehab to her ballet needs and get her back to performing.
• Arthritis • Dislocation • Hip fracture • Sprains and strains
• Tendonitis • Pinched nerves • Osteoporosis • Cancer
While some causes are more severe than others, a physician can help in identifying each. As the body ages, joints can become inflamed. Cartilage may wear down, reducing the “buffer” between bones. In some cases, limited blood flow may cause bone tissue death, or necrosis. If you are experiencing redness, inflammation and stiffened joints, the condition may be severe. What Are the Symptoms? While leg pain is noticeable by a slew of symptoms, several are prevalent. Aching or stiffness around the hip, groin, back or thigh may be a sign of deeper problems. A decreased range of motion, too, is a sign of deeper problems which may later result in hip or knee pain. Sometimes, inactivity can contribute to immobility—and later pain. If you are limping, lurching or are experiencing bad balance, contact a physician. While some hip and knee pain does go away, those lasting longer than several months may be hinting at a deeper issue. If you are suffering with hip or knee pain, call us today to learn how we can eliminate your pain and put a spring back in your step!
4. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? I think I’d like to be a dog. That would be the best life; getting to lay around all day in the sun or run around a yard…
5. If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? This is a hard question! I guess hungry? Hungry to keep learning more, doing more, to become my best, but also just usually hungry.
6. What do you like to do in your off time, outside the clinic? I like spending time with my husband, family, and friends, experimenting with new foods, and trying not to let weeds completely overtake my yard.
www.excelphysicaltherapy.com
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