Join Airrosti’s Anthony Pavlich, PT, DPT, as he discusses the different causes of hip pain and common signs of hip conditions like hip bursitis, IT band syndrome, and hip impingement. Learn more about traditional hip pain treatment methods and how Airrosti can help relieve hip pain in as few as three visits (based on patient-reported outcomes).
Hip pain and stiffness is a common condition treated at Airrosti. The hip is one of the largest joints in the body. To function correctly and with full range of motion, the ligaments, muscles, and fascia surrounding the joint must be working in unison. To know how to best treat hip pain, you should understand how it occurs, what symptoms to look out for, and what kind of treatment may be best for you.
The hip joint is designed to withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. This ball-and-socket joint allows for fluid lower body movements. While many causes of hip pain can arise from the joint itself, there are numerous structures surrounding the hip that can also be the source of pain.
Untreated acute trauma is often the cause of hip pain, but any source of inflammation may cause discomfort in the hip area. Pain is one of the symptoms of inflammation, along with swelling, warmth, and redness; together these are signals and symptoms that a problem may exist.
Aside from an acute injury, some other causes include overuse injuries in which muscles, tendons, and ligaments can become inflamed. Overuse of the hip can also wear away the cartilage in the hip joint, causing arthritis. Common hip problems caused by strain and overuse include hip tendonitis/tendinitis, hip bursitis, and hip flexor strain.
You may also experience referred pain from other structures outside the hip joint. This means that, while the hip hurts, the problem may originate elsewhere, such as Snapping Hip Syndrome being actually being caused by the iliotibial band.
Depending on the condition that’s causing your hip pain, you may feel discomfort in various parts of your body, including:
Signs of an inflammatory condition like tendonitis or bursitis often include:
The treatment of pain or discomfort depends on the cause. If hip pain is associated with activities like power walking or running, resting from that activity, or switching to lower impact activities may be helpful. Implementing activities like yoga can help, as it often includes stretches for hips that can improve mobility and reduce pain by stretching the soft tissues around the area.
Through simple preventative stretches and exercises, you can avoid many of the problems commonly associated with hip and hip flexor injuries, as well as joint pain from referred injuries throughout the body. If your hip pain is a result of overuse, your doctor will likely recommend rest, anti-inflammatory medications, or physical therapy. You should always consult with your doctor about what treatment options are best for you.
Hip pain is a nonspecific complaint that requires a musculoskeletal professional, like an Airrosti Provider, to find the underlying cause of all the many potential conditions or injuries.
While general hip pain often responds well to home remedies and rest, Airrosti can help rapidly resolve the source of pain in an average of 3 visits (based on patient-reported outcomes) — keeping you moving and getting you back to the sports or activities you love most and avoid chronic, long term pain.
If you have nagging pain that’s keeping you from performing at your best, click here to schedule an Airrosti appointment today.
Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic
Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
I’m an avid runner, and over the past year my left hip — specifically my upper hamstring — was tight and bothered me when I’d go for a run. It wasn’t debilitating, but it was uncomfortable and something was definitely wrong. Over the past two years during Covid I worked from home and my home office setup wasn’t ergonomic, which ultimately resulted in the recurring hip pain I was experiencing. It was frustrating, and despite rest and some stretching, nothing was easing the pain. I heard about Airrosti from a family member who had experienced similar discomfort, so I thought I’d give it a try. Dr. Story and the treatment was extremely helpful. He worked with me to identify the issues I was experiencing and focused treatment i...+ show moren a targeted and progressive manner to alleviate the discomfort and underlying issues. My discomfort hasn’t fully subsided (it will take time to reverse two years of negligence), but the treatment he provided and the home stretching and strengthening exercises have helped tremendously! I plan to continue with the plan provided and look forward to being back to normal very soon!
by Jeff Sundberg
