Hip Pain Treatment

Physical therapy can help identify the factors contributing to your hip pain, improve strength and mobility, and help you return to the activities that matter to you.

What Causes Hip Pain?

The hip is a complex joint supported by muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other surrounding tissues. Pain can develop when one or more of these structures becomes irritated, injured, overloaded, or isn't moving as efficiently as it should.

Common causes and conditions associated with hip pain include:

• Muscle strains or overuse
• Hip bursitis
• Gluteal tendinopathy
• Hip impingement
• Osteoarthritis
• Labral injuries
• Weakness or muscle imbalances around the hip
• Reduced hip mobility or stiffness
• Repetitive stress from sports, exercise, or work
• Changes in movement mechanics involving the hip, pelvis, or lower back

Hip pain can also sometimes be referred from the lower back, which is one reason determining where your symptoms are actually coming from is an important part of treatment.

What Are the Signs of a Hip Problem?

Hip symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause. Some people experience pain directly over the hip, while others notice discomfort in the groin, buttock, or outside of the thigh.

Common signs include:

• Pain in the hip, groin, buttock, or outer thigh
• Pain when walking or climbing stairs
• Discomfort when getting up from a chair
• Pain when lying on the affected side
• Hip stiffness or limited range of motion
• Weakness around the hip or leg
• Pain with running, exercising, or sports
• Difficulty standing or walking for longer periods
• Clicking, catching, or pinching sensations in the hip

If hip pain is persistent, worsening, or beginning to limit your normal activities, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Hip Pain?

Physical therapy for hip pain focuses on identifying and treating the movement, strength, mobility, and tissue-related factors contributing to your symptoms.

After discussing your symptoms, medical history, activities, and goals, your physical therapist will evaluate how your hip and surrounding areas move and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Hip mobility and range-of-motion exercises
• Progressive strengthening of the hip and surrounding muscles
• Manual therapy
• Movement and gait assessment
• Balance and stability training
• Activity modifications
• Education about movements or positions that aggravate symptoms
• Gradual return to exercise, sports, work, or other activities
• Personalized home exercises

The goal isn't simply to temporarily reduce hip pain. Physical therapy can address the factors contributing to your symptoms while helping you build the strength, mobility, and confidence needed for long-term improvement.

When Should You Seek Help?

You don't necessarily need to wait until hip pain becomes severe before seeing a physical therapist. Earlier evaluation can help identify what's contributing to the problem and keep symptoms from interfering more with your daily life.

Consider seeking help if you're experiencing:

• Hip pain that isn't improving
• Pain that repeatedly returns
• Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
• Pain when sitting, standing, or sleeping
• Increasing hip stiffness or loss of mobility
• Weakness in the hip or leg
• Pain that keeps you from exercising or participating in activities you enjoy
• Hip symptoms that are beginning to affect your daily routine

At Prosper, we'll evaluate your hip mobility, strength, movement patterns, and symptoms to determine what may be contributing to your pain and create a treatment plan based on your individual needs and goals.

Whether your hip pain recently started or has been bothering you for months, the goal is to help you move more comfortably, regain strength and mobility, and get back to doing the things you enjoy.

– Clinically reviewed by the Prosper Orthopedic Physical Therapy Team