Have you recently started feeling pain in your hip after exercise or activity? Or maybe your hip aches after sitting for too long or standing? Hip pain can be frustrating and confusing — especially when the source of the discomfort isn’t immediately clear.
Hip Pain Doesn’t Always Start in the Hip
The human body is complex, and pain can be referred from one area to another. That means where you feel the pain isn’t always where it’s coming from. Accurate diagnosis is key to finding the right treatment and getting back to the activities you enjoy.
Common Sources of Hip Pain
Hip pain can originate from several different areas, including:
- Lateral (outer) hip – often related to overworked gluteal muscles or referred pain from the lower back
- Posterior (back) hip – possibly linked to deep hip muscles or lower spine
- Groin or inner hip (adductors) – may be due to tendon overload or joint irritation
- Deep within the hip joint – potentially involving hip osteoarthritis, labral tears, or other joint-related issues
How Is Hip Pain Diagnosed?
An accurate diagnosis involves a comprehensive assessment by a qualified health professional. This includes:
- Listening to your story: What movements make the pain worse or better? How did it start?
- Identifying pain location: Sometimes this includes drawing your pain on a body map to improve clarity
- Physical testing: Hands-on assessments that match your reported symptoms
- Reproducing your pain: Combining your story with relevant hands on testing can help us to identify the cause of your pain
What Could Be Causing Your Hip Pain?
Some of the more common hip pain diagnoses include:
1. Lateral Hip Pain
Often caused by gluteal tendon overload or referred pain from the lower back.
2. Intra-articular (Deep Joint) Hip Pain
Can result from:
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Labral cartilage tears
- Bone-related pain or lesions
3. Inner Hip/Groin Pain
Might be caused by:
- Adductor muscle strain or tendinopathy
- Issues inside the hip joint itself
Treatment Options for Hip Pain
Once the cause is identified, treatment should be targeted and evidence-based. This might include:
- ? Specific exercises done daily and progressively increased in intensity
- ? Hip mobilisations using belt-assisted techniques to improve joint movement
- ? Deep tissue release as part of a broader pain management plan
- ? Education and gradual return to activity, helping you safely resume exercise or sport
- ?Coordination with other health professionals for complex cases
? Important: Exercise consistency is crucial to your recovery — doing physiotherapy guided exercise regularly will help support healing and prevent recurrence.
When to Seek Help
If you’ve been dealing with nagging hip, glute, groin or lower back pain, it’s a good idea to seek professional assessment. Getting the right diagnosis early can save you from ongoing discomfort and longer recovery times.
Need help with your hip pain?
We’re here to help you get back to moving with confidence. Contact us today to book an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.
Call us on 093616415
Or book online www.bodyreform.co.nz