Hip Pain: Common Causes and How Physio Can Help

Understanding Hip Pain and Finding Relief

That nagging ache in your hip that makes getting out of bed difficult, or the sharp twinge that catches you mid-stride—hip pain has a way of affecting nearly everything you do. Whether you are an active person frustrated by limitations or someone who simply wants to walk without discomfort, understanding what is causing your pain is the first step toward getting better.

Hip pain does not discriminate. It affects young athletes, busy parents, office workers, and retirees alike. The good news is that most hip conditions respond remarkably well to physiotherapy, often without the need for more invasive interventions.

What Might Be Causing Your Hip Pain

The hip is a complex ball-and-socket joint, and pain can arise from various structures within or around it. Osteoarthritis is the most common culprit in adults over 50, occurring when the protective cartilage gradually wears down. You might notice stiffness in the morning that eases as you move, or an ache that intensifies after prolonged activity.

Bursitis develops when the fluid-filled sacs that cushion your hip joint become inflamed, often causing sharp pain on the outside of your hip that is tender to touch. Tendinitis, particularly common in active individuals, results from overuse and typically presents as pain during specific movements like climbing stairs or walking uphill.

Hip labral tears—damage to the cartilage ring surrounding your hip socket—can cause a catching or clicking sensation along with deep groin pain. Muscle strains, especially in the hip flexors and gluteal muscles, often follow sudden movements or overexertion. And sometimes, hip pain is not from the hip at all—your lower back or sacroiliac joint can refer discomfort into the hip region, which is why thorough assessment matters so much.

How Physiotherapy Makes a Difference

Many of our patients arrive feeling frustrated that their hip pain has persisted despite rest or medication. What they often discover is that addressing the underlying cause—rather than just the symptoms—leads to lasting relief.

Your treatment begins with a thorough assessment to identify exactly what is driving your pain. We examine not just your hip, but how you move through everyday activities. Sometimes the problem originates elsewhere, and treating only the hip would miss the real issue.

Manual therapy techniques, including joint mobilization and soft tissue work, help restore proper movement and reduce pain. But the real magic happens when we combine hands-on treatment with targeted exercises designed to strengthen the muscles supporting your hip. Strong glutes and a stable core take pressure off the joint itself, allowing healing to occur.

We also analyze how you walk and move, because subtle compensations often perpetuate hip problems. By correcting these patterns, we help prevent the same issues from returning.

What Recovery Looks Like

Most patients notice improvement within the first few sessions, though the timeline varies depending on your specific condition. Your physiotherapist will guide you through stretching exercises for tight hip muscles, strengthening work for your glutes and core, balance training to improve stability, and gradual return to the activities you love.

Do Not Wait Until It Gets Worse

Hip pain rarely resolves completely on its own, and delaying treatment often means a longer recovery. Early intervention leads to faster results and better outcomes in the long run.

Ready to address your hip pain? Contact Health Craft Clinic to schedule an assessment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.