Hips and Knees – How to Kick the Pain
The holiday season is upon us and with the hustle and bustle of activity can often come the dreaded holiday aches and pains. Running around in search of the perfect gift, long car rides to see loved ones, and putting exercise on the back burner can sometimes take quite a toll on the hips and knees. Even the cooler weather can bring that unwanted achiness that seems to want to stick around for the holidays. In this section, we are going to talk about how to successfully handle hip and knee pain so you can get back to that annual Christmas softball game in the backyard, man the grill outside, or search the stores up and down until you find that extra special gift for your grandchild.
· Stretch. When your joints stiffen, pain can get much worse. Help alleviate and prevent this pain by doing a daily stretching routine for your legs, hips, and back. Staying limber will keep the soreness at bay when you have to sprint through the airport to catch that flight! · Listen to your body. At the end of the day, always listen to your body. If something is painful, stop or modify what you are doing. If you’ve been on your feet all day perfecting that holiday dinner and you feel your legs tightening up, it may be time to take a small break. Ask someone to stand in for you and find someone to give you a foot massage! When should I seek treatment? It is important to recognize when at-home remedies aren’t working. It is ideal if you can relieve pain on your own, but if it continues to persist without getting better, it may be time to contact your Physical Therapist. What will Physical Therapy do? A Physical Therapist is a movement expert that can perform a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and your health history. Together, you will create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific goals, as well as the things that are important to you. Your therapist will also seek collaboration with other members of your healthcare team as needed. Getting to the root cause of the problem is always the primary goal. Physical Therapy treatment may include:
What causes hip and knee pain? The hip joint is a large ball-and-socket joint where the leg attaches to the body, and it is one of the most stable joints due to its robust structure. There is a cushion of cartilage at the end of the thigh bone, or femur, that helps prevent friction as your hip bone moves within the socket. It is possible for the cartilage to wear down or become damaged with age, injury or overuse. This can cause pain. Other causes of pain can include arthritis, tendonitis, or muscle strains. More severe causes of hip pain can include fractures and damage to the tendons, ligaments, or muscles around the hip joint. The knee joint is the largest joint in the body. It is a modified hinge joint that connects the thigh to the lower leg. Its main function is to allow you to bend and straighten your leg, and to bear the weight of your body, such as when walking, running, and jumping. Causes of knee pain can include arthritis, sports injuries, and strains. More severe causes include fractures, dislocations, and ligament tears. What can I do to avoid hip and knee pain? Here are some quick tips that can help you through the holiday season with less pain! · Wear properly fitted shoes. Comfortable, fitted, closed-toed shoes are a great way to relieve stress on your joints. Give the gift of support to your hips and knees this holiday season! · Alternate hot and cold. Ice packs may not seem desirable when the weather is chilly outside, but alternating a heating pad and an ice pack can help soothe your aches and pains.
· Manual/hands-on therapy · Flexibility training · Strength training · Balance and stability analysis/training · Posture analysis · Home Exercise Program
What now? At Life In Motion, your goals are our goals. If you find that you need extra help to get back to the activities that you love, give us a call today. We want you to be able to participate in the festivities of the season, but more importantly, we want you to get back to life. We are here to help make that happen. Happy Holidays!
FREE HIP OR KNEE PAIN SCREENING
Have you ever… • had to ask someone to help you get up out of a chair? • missed participating in vacation or leisure activities because of hip or knee pain? • found yourself worrying pain rather than living your life? CALL (727) 369-6355 TO SCHEDULE Use this coupon or give it to friends or family - spaces are limited to the first 10 calls. Expires Jan 31, 2019.
www.lifeinmotion-therapy.com
Made with FlippingBook Annual report