The hamstring is a group of three muscles along the back of the thigh that connect the pelvis to the leg, responsible for extending the hip and bending the knee. A hamstring strain occurs when one or more of the hamstring muscles is partially or completely torn. Strains are graded 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe), depending on the intensity of the injury. After rest and ice, treatment plans include muscle strengthening and range-of-motion exercises to aid in a quick recovery.

The groin is the area of the body where your abdomen meets up with the leg and the inner thigh muscles connect to the pubic bone. Groin strains, the overstretching or tearing of the groin muscles, typically occur in the muscles of the upper inner thigh or in the front of the hip. Strains are graded 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe), depending on the intensity of the injury. Groin strains are painful and can result in bruising, swelling, tightness, and/or muscle weakness. Your physical therapist will help you regain strength and speed up recovery times.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, hip bursitis affects 15% of women and 8.5% of men of all ages in the United States. Also called trochanteric bursitis, this condition occurs when one or both of the bursae become damaged or irritated. The most common cause is repetitive activity, but less common causes include direct trauma, hip surgery or replacement, bone spurs, poor posture, infection, diseases, or improper movement. Pain is the primary symptom. Physical therapy can help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and movement, and patients usually make a return to full activity after rehabilitation.

Hip impingement is a change in the shape of the surface of the hip joint that makes it prone to damage, causing hip pain and discomfort. Pincer-type impingement indicates that the hip socket is angled improperly, while cam-type impingement indicates that the head of the femur is misshapen. Sometimes, arthroscopic surgery is necessary for successful treatment. Physical therapy will help ensure a safe and successful recovery, whether or not surgery is needed. This condition may precede hip osteaoarthritis.

Hip OA is the progressive inflammation and wearing away of the cartilage inside the hip joint. The cause is unknown, but symptoms, including hip pain, typically increase with age. Usually, this condition is diagnosed by your doctor; you are then referred to physical therapy for treatment. Your treatment plan can include everything from range-of-motion and strength exercises to braces and manual therapy. Sometimes, surgical intervention is recommended in addition to physical therapy.

When treating osteoarthritis, a whole-body approach is key. Your physical therapist considers how the strength, mobility, and flexibility of other body parts factors into the stability of your hip and uses this information to develop the most appropriate and helpful treatment plan.

Hip arthroplasty is common in cases of severe arthritis or hip fracture when other treatment methods have proven ineffective. A partial hip replacement only replaces the ball of the hip joint, while in a total hip replacement, the ball and socket are both replaced. Physical therapy can help before and after surgery, conditioning your body for the experience and helping you to recover. Physical therapy begins almost immediately after surgery, starting with small movements like sitting up in bed. Outpatient physical therapy will include exercises specific to your goals, customized around the activities you participate in. Improving balance, increasing strength, reducing hip pain, and returning to daily normal activity are primary goals for treatment.