Conditions we treat
Hip pain: separating the joint, the muscles and the back
Hip pain can come from the joint itself, the surrounding muscles, or even the lower back, we work out which before treating.
Hip pain is often more complicated than it first appears. Pain felt at the front of the hip can come from the hip joint itself, while pain at the side or back is frequently muscular or related to the lower back and sacroiliac joint. Treating the wrong structure rarely helps, which is why assessment comes first.
We see hip pain across a wide age range, from active people with muscular overload or tendon irritation, to older patients with joint-related stiffness. Both groups can improve meaningfully with the right approach, even if that approach looks quite different.
A thorough hip assessment includes checking the joint itself, the surrounding muscles, and its relationship to the lower back, since problems in one area often show up as pain in another.
Common signs & symptoms
- A deep, aching pain in the groin or front of the hip
- Pain on the outside of the hip, worse lying on that side at night
- Stiffness getting out of a car or up from a low chair
- A limp or altered walking pattern
- Pain with prolonged walking, standing or stair climbing
- A catching or pinching sensation when bending the hip deeply
- Reduced range of motion compared to the other side
What causes hip pain?
Hip joint irritation — wear-related changes or joint stiffness can cause deep
groin-based pain
Gluteal tendinopathy — overloaded tendons on the outside of the hip are a common cause of lateral hip pain
Referred pain from the lower back — irritated lumbar or sacroiliac joints can refer pain into the hip and buttock ([back pain](/conditions/back-pain/))
Muscle imbalance — weakness in the hip stabilisers can overload other structures around the joint
Sudden increases in activity — a rapid jump in walking
running or training load can overwhelm hip tissues
How we help at IA Chiropractic
We assess the hip joint, surrounding muscles and lower back together, since hip pain frequently involves more than one of these areas at once.
Depending on what we find, treatment may include Chiropractic adjustments for the lower back and pelvis, soft tissue therapy for overloaded muscles, and a graded exercise programme to build the strength and control that keeps hip pain from recurring.
We’ll also look at contributing factors like recent activity changes or footwear, since addressing these often matters as much as the hands-on treatment itself.