Hip Pain: Causes, symptoms And Treatment

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. Our providers are trained to find the source of the pain and eliminate it quickly and safely — typically in as few as three visits based on patient-reported outcomes.

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.

Hip pain may also arise from 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 in the iliotibial band.

Depending on the condition that’s causing your hip pain, you may feel discomfort in various parts of your body, including:

In the upper thigh
Inside or outside of the hip joint
Around the groin
Around the buttocks
In the low back

Signs of an inflammatory condition like tendonitis or bursitis often include:

Reduced range of motion in the hips
Tenderness and swelling
Stiffness in the muscles and joints
Increased pain when pressure is added to the affected area
Increased fatigue during physical activity
Pain may be worse at night, when lying on the affected hip, and when getting up from a seated position

The treatment of hip pain depends on the precise cause of the pain.

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. Stretching the soft tissues around the hip can also help reduce pain.

When pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce inflammation and pain. If your hip pain is a result of overuse, your doctor will likely recommend rest.

If the hip pain is associated with activity like power walking or running, resting from that activity or switching to lower impact activities may be helpful.

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 illnesses or injuries.

While general hip pain often responds well to home remedies and rest, Airrosti can help rapidly resolve the source of pain in as few as 3 visits (based on patient-reported outcomes) — keeping you moving and getting you back to the sports or activities you love most.

If you have nagging hip pain that’s keeping you from performing at your best, click here to schedule a risk-free 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.