How Short-Term Physical Rehab Can Help You with Hip Bursitis

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If you have pain, tenderness, or stiffness in your hip joint, you may be dealing with hip bursitis. Hip bursitis is a very common condition where the fluid sac (the bursa) on the outside of the hip becomes inflamed. Hip bursitis can resolve itself in a few weeks with some over-the-counter NSAIDs and icing. But sometimes the issue doesn't go away—especially when a person has a job that requires prolonged sitting or standing. If your bursitis gets to the point where you are in pain or need to take time off of work to rest, you should seek out a short-term physical therapist.

How can short-term physical rehabilitation help?

The goal of short-term physical therapy is to get your body back to proper functioning in the shortest amount of time possible. Short-term physical rehabilitation doesn't mean the therapist is skimping on your healing—it means he or she is trying to get you back to your old self as fast as possible so you can resume work, school, and other activities without further issue. A professional at a physical rehabilitation facility can help you by 

  • teaching you site-specific stretches to reduce pain,
  • helping you strengthen the area and improve range of motion with gentle exercises,
  • monitoring your exercises so you don't injure the area further, and
  • massaging and/or stretching the affected area for you while you relax (known as manual therapy).

Your therapist will also help you pinpoint the root cause of the issue, which is important to mitigate reoccurrence.

What is the root cause of your bursitis?

Sometimes bursitis is simply caused by muscle weakness, but there are many other root causes. For instance, if you are overweight or obese, then the extra weight can place more pressure on the bursa. Besides helping you strengthen, massage, and stretch the area, your therapist can develop a nutritional plan with you so that weight loss doesn't seem as overwhelming.

Sometimes bursitis is a side effect from an injury, such as a dislocation or broken bone. Thankfully, orthopedic conditions are greatly helped by short-term rehab; you just may need to get the go-ahead from your doctor or surgeon.

If you are in great shape, you may be surprised that you have bursitis. However, inflammation is a common complaint from those who are either overtaxing the hip or those who have improper form. Again, your therapist can help you adjust your form—such as if you run or lift weights—so that you don't exacerbate your symptoms. Or, he or she may recommend low-impact activities, like swimming or cycling.

Some professions, like those in the healthcare industry, require people to be on their feet all day. If you don't have proper support in your shoes or take adequate breaks, then you could be developing bursitis as a repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Contact a rehab facility today to get to the root cause of your bursitis and start healing.


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