Aurras Waves is Here!
See below to find out more and get your ticket!
A Holistic Approach to Addressing Hip and Knee Pain
February Newsletter
If you’ve ever experienced hip or knee pain, you know how debilitating it can be. Your hips and knees both play an essential role in keeping you active and mobile, so when something’s wrong with one or the other, seeking comprehensive treatment can make a big difference.
At Rising Sun Physical Therapy, we take a holistic approach to addressing hip and knee pain. That’s why we always start by determining the exact cause of your discomfort – and sometimes, it might surprise you!
Your hips and knees work together to help you move (a connection known as the kinetic chain). For this reason, we frequently observe that a problem originating in the hip can be first felt as knee pain and vice versa.
By determining the source of your pain, our physical therapists can guide you back to health using a blend of effective treatment techniques.
Hip Pain versus Knee Pain: Know the Signs
Although the hip and knee are interconnected, they’re still separate structures with unique roles in our body’s movement and function. Our team can help you know for certain whether your discomfort stems from your hip or knee, but here are a few signs to watch out for.
Hip pain is generally categorized by…
- Pain and restricted range of motion that starts in the groin area and then, as the condition worsens, extends to the thigh or knee.
- Limited mobility in the morning that eases up throughout the day.
- Difficulty with activities that involve bending over, getting up from a chair, or walking uphill.
Knee pain is generally categorized by…
- Pain and swelling in the knee, particularly after prolonged periods of activity.
- Restricted knee mobility.
- Popping or crunching noises during knee movement.
- A sense of weakness or instability in the knee, making weight-bearing activities (such as walking) more difficult.
Rachel’s Story: When Knee Pain Is Really Hip Pain
We recently worked with a patient, Rachel (her name has been changed), who experienced this hip-knee pain confusion firsthand.
For months, Rachel had been struggling with what she thought was a knee issue. She experienced pain when climbing stairs and noticed swelling around her knee after extended activity.
However, something didn’t quite add up. Despite her knee pain, Rachel was also experiencing stiffness and discomfort in her hip, especially in the mornings or after sitting for too long.
A comprehensive assessment confirmed what we suspected: the root of Rachel’s knee pain was actually a soft tissue injury in her hip. This injury had restricted her hip’s range of motion, causing her to perform compensatory motions that affected her strength and, as a result, led to her knee pain.
Enhancing Treatment with Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
We created a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to Rachel’s needs. Along with therapeutic exercises to improve her mobility and strengthen her lower body, we recommended she try deep tissue laser therapy to facilitate her injury recovery and reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area.
Although it sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, deep tissue laser therapy is relatively straightforward. The technique uses light waves to penetrate deep into the body’s tissues, stimulating cellular activity, reducing inflammation, easing pain, and promoting healing.
Rachel’s sessions were quick and painless. Our specialist ran the laser wand over the affected area of Rachel’s hip. Rachel reported feeling a soothing warmth during treatment and found that her sessions – which only lasted around ten minutes – made it much easier for her to perform her prescribed exercises.
After a few weeks of treatment, Rachel started noticing a difference. Her morning stiffness became less intense, and her knee pain began to subside.
Discover the Benefits of our Holistic Approach for Yourself
Rachel’s story is just one example of how a comprehensive, whole-body approach can address injuries and impairments in the hip and knee. If you’re struggling with pain in your lower body, visit our website or email us at support@risingsunphysicaltherapy.com to schedule an appointment. Our team is here to help you find relief!
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I’ve struggled with chronic knee pain for years. After completing physical therapy with laser treatments, I felt significant relief. I now manage my pain with monthly laser sessions and can hike San Francisco’s hills without discomfort. Laser therapy has been life-changing for me.”
—Susan M.
Integrative Wellness Partnership
Aurras Transformation offers a holistic approach to stress relief, using dance and natural rhythms to support your healing journey. Join our monthly New Moon Ritual and 5Rhythms Offerings and start your path to wellness.
Explore Our Offerings:
Aurras Waves is Here – Get Your Ticket Now!
It’s happening! Aurras Waves launches February 20th, bringing ongoing Thursday night 5Rhythms classes to San Francisco! This is more than a class — it’s a weekly space to move, release, and reconnect with yourself through the rhythms of life.
Movement Medicine for Your Body & Soul
Your body already knows how to heal. Movement is medicine for the nervous system — not just one kind, but an expansive, exploratory journey. A full dose of movement vitamins to reset, release, and restore.
This is a place to heal and integrate what you learn in physical therapy — to expand, move beyond limitations, and fully recover. Move as you are. Come as you are. Join in, because consistency is key.
At Aurras Waves, we dance into balance. No steps to follow, no experience needed — just move, breathe, and let the rhythm guide you. Bettina will guide you to explore movement, connect with your body, and let the rhythm take you where you need to go. Because moving is medicine, and the dance floor is where we heal.
🔥 Special Launch Prices Available — Join Me! 🔥
Thursdays at 7 PM
401 Alabama St.
San Francisco
Aurras Waves – Dance the Breath to Your Soul
Let’s fill the space with breath, movement, and energy, building a community that dances through stress, into freedom, and back home to ourselves. Come celebrate this new beginning with me! 💃🔥
Foot and Ankle
Going Further Along the Kinetic Chain
Your hip and knee aren’t the only body parts connected by the kinetic chain. Imagine yourself taking a step — the movement doesn’t end at your knee, does it? No, it keeps moving through your ankle and into your foot.
Just as injuries, faulty biomechanics, and chronic conditions can lead to hip and knee pain, they can also impact your foot and ankle. That’s why it’s important to visit us at Rising Sun Physical Therapy if you’re experiencing any lower body discomfort.
We won’t look at your foot or ankle in isolation. We’ll consider how they fit into the entire kinetic chain of your lower extremities. This helps us pinpoint the true cause of your discomfort so we can provide lasting relief.
What Does This Look Like?
Let’s say you injure your knee but don’t seek immediate treatment. As a result, you adopt an improper gait (walking pattern) to compensate for the restricted mobility in your knee. This gait puts undue stress on your feet and ankles, resulting in Achilles tendinitis, an inflammation of the tendon along the back of your heel. Now you have multiple injuries to deal with!
Fortunately, our comprehensive approach can help you find relief. Laser therapy, manual therapy, targeted exercises, and gait training can help restore proper movement and function.
Want to learn more? Visit our website to schedule an appointment.
Meet Our Team
-
Kelsey Anderson
Operations Manager -
Simone Vienneau
PT -
Bettina Neumann
PT, CST, LLCC
Exercise of the Month
Bulgarian Split Squat
Start by standing in front of a chair. Place one foot behind you on the chair so your front leg is straight and your back leg is bent to about 90-degrees. Hold a stick or cane for balance on the same side of your body as your back leg. Place about 60% of your weight on your front foot and 40% on your back leg and sink your hips straight down toward the floor. Make sure to keep your front heel down and do not let your knee go too far past your toes. Stand back up straight.
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Anti-Inflammatory Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup
This delicious ginger and turmeric carrot soup is as comforting as it is healing. Packed with strong flavors like garlic, fennel, and ginger, and full of anti-inflammatory ingredients, this is the perfect winter soup.
Directions: Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or saucepan. Add the fennel, leeks, carrots, and squash. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the veggies start to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, and pepper, and sauté for a few more minutes. Add the broth and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Once the soup is cooked, add it to a blender and blend until creamy. You could also use an immersion blender. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your taste. Serve immediately with a dollop of coconut yogurt and enjoy!
https://www.simplyquinoa.com/anti-inflammatory-ginger-turmeric-carrot-soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 leek, cleaned and sliced
- 1 cup chopped fennel bulb (1 small head)
- 3 cups chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped butternut squash (or more carrots)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger (about a 2-inch piece)
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 can lite coconut milk (14.5 ounces)
Let’s Get You Better ASAP!
Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.
