Leg & Hip

Your legs and hips are essential to your body’s movement and allow you to walk, jog, run, and jump! The legs account for a quarter of the body’s bones and consist of major muscle groups, such as the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves. The hip is one of only two ball-and-socket joints in the body, the other being the shoulder. However, the hip has to cope with significantly higher loads. Due to this constant loading and the complex relationship between the interconnecting muscle groups, the hips and legs are prone to injury and can deteriorate due to overuse.

If you have pain, or a niggle that won’t go away, don’t ignore it.

Here at The Physio & Therapy Rooms in Barrowford, we offer treatment for all types of leg and hip problems, with our aim always being to improve your quality of life by easing your pain, increasing your mobility and getting you back to doing the things you enjoy.

Get in touch today to start your recovery.

“At the beginning of the year I started having a problem with pain in my right hip and by the summer the pain and numbness was immense, stopping me from sleeping well at night. I had an X-ray done and it showed nothing abnormal. This is when I first came to see Dan.

He had treated my husband’s shoulder problem successfully, so I was aware of him and needed to get some relief from the pain.

Dan diagnosed my hip problem on the first visit and gave me a programme of exercise to do at home. Within a week the sciatica had gone and the pain was much better. After another couple of weeks the pain had gone completely.

I am now three months down the line and not only is the hip better but to my absolute joy, the back stiffness that had plagued my life and restricted me so much has also improved dramatically!

Dan has done so much more for me in three months than any other therapist has done in thirty-seven years (and I have seen other physiotherapists)!

He has transformed my life! My only regret is that I didn’t find him sooner.”

Karen M, Colne

Leg and hip pain often go together but the reason for the pain may not even be directly related to the leg or hip at all! For example, some people may feel pain in the lower back, groin, or legs, which is caused by the hip joint itself, or a lower back issue could be causing pain which radiates into the hip, leg, and even into the foot. This is ‘referred’ pain, which is pain that is experienced in one area of the body that actually originates from another.

 

Our team of experienced physiotherapists treat a wide range of conditions but some of the more common leg and hip problems that we routinely offer relief from are:

  • Sciatica – True sciatica is a condition that causes pain in the buttocks or the back of the legs, resulting from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, usually as the nerve exits from the lower back, or as it passes through a muscle called piriformis in the buttock. Symptoms of sciatica may last for just a few days or weeks but in some cases, can last for many months or years. However, regardless of how long they have been there, these types of symptoms can usually be resolved.
  • Hip Muscle Strain – Hip strains occur when fibres in the hip muscles (most commonly the hamstrings and quadriceps), become inflamed or torn due to excessive strain or force being put through them. This causes a sudden sharp or ‘stabbing’ pain, swelling, and bruising around the hip and thigh. Hip and thigh strains are commonly caused by powerful movements such as kicking, or activities such as sprinting whilst running or cycling.
  • Calf Muscle Strain – Calf strains occur when fibres in the calf muscles at the back of the lower leg become inflamed or torn due to excessive strain or force being put through them. This causes a sudden sharp or ‘stabbing’ pain, swelling, and bruising in the area. Calf strains are commonly caused by powerful movements such as hopping, jumping, kicking, or activities such as sprinting whilst running or cycling.
  • Partial or Complete Rupture – Can occur in the hamstrings, quadriceps, or Achilles tendon. Whilst they are commonly caused by sporting activities, they can occur during any activity where the muscles are subjected to forces that they are not strong enough to resist. A partial rupture will cause pain and swelling, whilst a complete rupture can cause abnormal contours along the leg and can result in a complete lack of ability to move the body part that the muscle is attached to.
  • Shin Splints – The term ‘shin splints’ refers to pain along the shin (tibia), which is the large bone in the front of the lower leg. This can be caused by several different issues but is generally due to some sort of overload, either through the tibia, or the connective tissues that attach the muscles to the bone.
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) – This is the main form of arthritis and is known as the ‘wear and tear’ of a joint. The hip and knee are especially susceptible to this due to their constant use during everyday activities. More common in the knee, the protective cartilage can wear away, resulting in swelling, pain, stiffness, aching, and limited movement of the joints.
  • Rehabilitation Following Joint Replacement Surgery – Following any surgery, the correct treatment and advice, provided in a timely manner, is vital but unfortunately not always available. Physiotherapy helps to restore joint function and independence after surgery, and can help to improve pain management and confidence. Without this timely treatment and advice, recovery may be delayed and the joint can become very painful.
  • ‘Snapping’/Clicking Hip – A condition in which you feel a ‘snapping’ or ‘clicking’ sensation in or around the hip, or hear a ‘popping’ sound when you move and is usually caused by a tendon moving over a bony protrusion in the hip. This is often pain-free when it first begins but as it persists, pain can develop.
  • Dead Leg – Also known as a ‘haematoma’, a dead leg is caused by a direct blow which crushes a muscle against a bone. This most commonly occurs in the quadriceps and results in bleeding from the damage to the muscle fibres and blood vessels, which causes the leg to swell. A deep haematoma can be a serious injury and must be assessed quickly to avoid further complications, such as the necessity for surgery.

For more information, or to make an appointment to start your recovery, we would encourage you to call our friendly team in Barrowford on 01282 509500 who will be more than happy to help.

Here at The Physio & Therapy Rooms, we are very proud of the feedback we receive. If you would like to see what people say about us, click here to read about the positive difference we have made to our client’s lives.