How common is hip pain during pregnancy?

Hip pain is a very common issue during pregnancy. In fact, it’s reported that about 1 out of 3 three pregnant women will develop hip pain. 

The hips are large, complex joints, and the added weight of pregnancy can lead to more stress on your hips and pain. However, additional body weight isn’t the only reason pregnant women develop hip discomfort. A physical therapist can help you learn the specific source of your pain, and they can also provide effective treatment options for hip pain during pregnancy. 

Common causes of hip pain during pregnancy

You’re less likely to develop hip pain at the beginning of your pregnancy. Most women who develop pain in this joint don’t do so until their second or third trimester. There are many issues that can lead to hip discomfort besides the added weight that pregnancy causes. A few other common causes of pregnancy-related hip pain include: 

• Sciatica.
• Increased relaxin hormone production.
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
• Round ligament pain.
• Symphysis pubis dysfunction.
• Poor posture.
• Doing particular exercises.
• Standing up for long periods of time.
• Lying in certain positions. 

How physical therapists can treat your hip pain during pregnancy

Your physical therapist can do a lot to reduce your hip pain, and they will start by evaluating you. This evaluation allows your therapist to gather information about your condition and symptoms. In turn, the information they gather can help them diagnose the precise cause(s) of your hip pain. 

Once they’ve figured out the source of your pain, your physical therapist will build you a unique therapy plan. Such a plan can make use of therapy methods like: 

• Therapeutic exercises to gently stretch and strengthen your hips. 

• Gait evaluations to pinpoint how your walking stride has changed. 

• Soft tissue mobilization therapy that can help reduce tension in muscles that support your hips. 

• Joint mobilization to improve range of motion and reduce pain in your hip joints. 

Armor Physical Therapy offers treatment for hip pain during pregnancy

Have your hips become increasingly painful as your pregnancy has progressed? Our physical therapists at Armor PT can help you find ways to ease your pain. We offer free screenings that can reveal the source of your pain and jump-start your therapy process. In addition, our team excels at creating personalized treatment plans designed to decrease hip pain and prevent it from returning. 

Having trouble getting around because of your pain? Our physical therapists can help you right in your own home thanks to our at-home care and virtual therapy services, and we can start helping you even if you don’t have a doctor’s referral. 

Contact us today for more information about all our hip pain treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.