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Physical therapy (PT) is a foundational component of hip care, whether you’re recovering from hip surgery, dealing with chronic hip pain, or trying to avoid surgery altogether. At Chicago Hip Doctor, Dr. Joel Williams offers comprehensive, hip-focused physical therapy programs designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and optimize function, with patients served throughout Chicago, Oak Brook, Naperville, Oak Park, and surrounding metro areas.
Physical therapy is a personalized exercise and treatment program that improves movement, restores range of motion, relieves pain, enhances blood flow, and rebuilds strength around your hip joint. For many patients with hip conditions - including hip impingement, labral tears, hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, or post-operative recovery - PT is either the first line of treatment or a critical follow-up to surgical intervention.
Together with manual therapy, education, activity modification, and therapeutic modalities, PT helps patients manage symptoms, reduce dependence on medication, and progressively return to daily activities like walking, climbing stairs, driving, recreational sports or hobbies.
When you begin physical therapy with Dr. Williams’ Chicago-based team, here’s typically how it works:
Initial Assessment & Plan: A physical therapist will evaluate your hip pain, movement limitations, daily activities, imaging results (if available), and goals. Based on this, a customized therapy plan is created.
Manual Therapy & Mobility Work: Gentle hands-on techniques (joint mobilizations, soft tissue work) to reduce stiffness, improve flexibility around the hip, pelvis, and lower back.
Stretching & Mobility Exercises: Targeted stretches to improve flexibility, reduce tightness in muscles surrounding the hip (glutes, hip flexors, adductors), and restore motion.
Functional Rehab & Movement Retraining: As strength and flexibility improve, tasks are added that mimic everyday activities: walking, stairs, sitting / standing, bending, etc., plus sport- or hobby-specific movement (if relevant).
Modalities & Adjunctive Therapies: Ice / heat therapy, ultrasound, electrostimulation, possibly other modern tools to manage pain, swelling, and promote healing.
Physical therapy is often prescribed in these situations:
Pre-surgery preparation (“prehab”) to strengthen muscles and improve function, which can help with surgical outcomes
Post-operative recovery after hip replacement, labral repair, periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), or other hip surgeries
Chronic hip pain from arthritis, bursitis, or labral tears where PT may reduce symptoms and delay or avoid surgery
Hip impingement / hip dysplasia cases where early intervention can prevent worsening damage
Reduced hip pain and inflammation
Increased range of motion, flexibility, and more comfortable movement
Greater strength around the hip (especially glutes, hip abductors, core)
Improved balance, posture, gait, and ability to return to daily activities or sports
Reduced need for pain medication or injections, potentially delaying or avoiding surgery
Dr. Joel Williams is a board-certified hip surgeon with deep expertise in hip preservation and rehabilitation. At his Chicago clinic, the physical therapy team works as an integrated part of hip care: aligning therapy with surgical or non-surgical treatment plans, focusing on patient goals, and ensuring safe, effective recovery.
Whether you are in Chicago, or coming from suburbs such as Oak Brook, Naperville, Oak Park, or nearby Midwest cities like Detroit or Milwaukee, our practice is committed to delivering top-tier hip physical therapy to help you regain mobility and live with less pain.
Are your ready to move better and feel better?
If you’re experiencing hip pain or recovering from surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Williams to see if a tailored physical therapy plan is right for you. You can also request a second opinion if you’re unsure about what path to take.
If your doctor suggests hip treatment, seek a second opinion and explore the best option.
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