Keep Hips Healthy for Post-Retirement Activities
Pain, soreness and weakness in the hips can interfere with desired activity levels, particularly for men and women 65 years old and older. For active Americans trying to enjoy their retirement years, poor hip health simply isn’t part of the plan—but that doesn’t mean they’re destined to miss out on life’s many pursuits. The good news is that physical therapy can help seniors remain physically active by addressing small issues before they grow.
Many are surprised to learn that when it comes to hip pain, the answer is closer than they think. According to Harvard Medical School, strengthening the surrounding muscles—including the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings—can take some of the stress off of the hips. Learning to take care of our hips as we age means recognizing when a new pain or limitation arises, and making sure it’s addressed by a healthcare professional to avoid mobility loss and prevent surgery.
Addressing pain or weakness at the first sign of a problem is important at any age, but it’s particularly important for seniors as concerns including fall risk and bone loss increase as we age. According to a recent study in The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, hip weakness and poor hip motion can lead to other problems, including knee and back pain. To prevent pain from worsening or moving to other areas, make an appointment with a physical therapist who will assess and address mobility issues and associated pain with a customized treatment plan.
When devising an exercise program, the physical therapist begins with an evaluation of the patient’s pain, functional ability, strength, balance and endurance. In addition, the PT will gather a thorough medical history and request a complete picture of the patient’s current activity level as well as goals for participating in additional recreational, sports or leisure activities.
Once the hip pain and any surrounding weaknesses have been adequately addressed under the supervision of a physical therapist, patients can often return to challenging their joints, bones and muscles in a controlled, progressive manner—and resume the level of activity they’re accustomed to. Upon discharge, the prescribed home exercise program is critical to maintaining good hip health and strength into the foreseeable future.
About The Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association
Founded in 1956, the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association champions the success of physical therapist-owned businesses. Our members are leaders and innovators in the health care system. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) represents more than 85,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students of physical therapy nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ppsapta.org.
"Last Sunday I played full court basketball for the first time in 15 years. I will qualify the contest by saying it happened on a court just out of the back door of an elder care center. The teams consisted of a 7 year old, an d8 year old, a young woman in flip-flops (I played in sandals), a woman who proudly stated she was 55 years old (I retorted with my age of 65), and a couple of other young guys that really played well. I ran the court, I played defense, blocked shots, made shots (missed a lot), got lots of rebounds, and talked a lot of smack while playing with a group of people a lot younger than me. I even made a behind the back-twisting fall-away shot, then fell and tumbled on the court. I jumped up and continued to play, and we played for about 45 minutes.
I attribute my ability to play this game that I love so much again to the excellent training receive from Kristy who is a trainer at A2 Physical Therapy. I have worked out and trained since I was very young. I played high school basketball, baseball, and I ran track. I spent 20 years in the Army with all the training requirements associated with that occupation. I played on community and city leagues, and I have trained with weights for many years. The training program Kristy has devised for me at A2 is rigorous, thorough, diverse, fun, challenging, and focused. She prepares workout plans that are age and fitness level appropriate. My work out now is so much different then it was when I first started. She both trains me individually and as a couple. I run, jump, stretch, lift, balance, squat, push, pull, and every other movement you can imagine. I look forward to going to my workout every time. Kristy is completely in charge of every workout. I am retired, and my training at A2 allows me to fill the need to accomplish something positive every day I work out. I am doing physical activity with ease that I would not have thought I would be able be able to accomplish at the age of 65 such as hiking on Mt Rainer and running 4 days per week. Kristy and A2 have really changed my life…"
− William
"I had a lot of fear after surgery, afraid that I would not regain mobility and strength. I feel that A2 helped me achieve a higher plateau of health, motion, and strength than I would’ve achieved elsewhere. Also, A2 has taught me the exercises to go even further, to strengthen and mobilize my shoulder. I fully trust A2 and will recommend them to all my friends, family, and coworkers. They have all treated both me and my wife with a gentle kindness that is rare today and have made us feel welcome in their care. Very professional, but with a sense of caring; that is how I would describe A2. I will miss them all and am very grateful to have been in their hands."
− Roger
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all that you have done to help me get better. What I admire the most is that you have a kind, caring, outstanding staff that not only listens to what is going on with us but goes the extra mile to help each of us achieve our goals. Danny and Alika never, never, never gave up on me and helped me reclaim my life. I love all of you dearly."
− C. Marez