Many patients describe pain in and around the hip joints. There can be many causes, several of which osteopathy can help. Pain can come from a tight, strained or overused muscle, or from the joint itself. It can follow an injury, be referred from the back, or relate to the way you move, stand and use your hip.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Buttock, groin or inner thigh pain, especially when moving and weight-bearing
- A painful click or clicking sensation in the groin
- Worsening pain on stairs, getting in and out of the car, vacuuming or walking
- Tenderness over the hips on either side of your low back
- Tightness in the hips when stretching
- Struggling to lie on one side because of a deep pain near the hip
- Hip pain during or since pregnancy
- A stiff hip that does not move as freely as the other
Common causes we treat
Osteoarthritis (wear and tear)
A narrowing of the joint space and damage to the cartilage. This is not always an age-related issue; it can begin earlier in life after accidents or from intense, repetitive activity such as football or dancing. Pain may travel into the groin or down the leg towards the knee. Osteopathy cannot cure arthritis, but it can often ease symptoms and slow progression through massage, gentle stretching to improve mobility, and by addressing related problems in the back, knees or ankles.
Bursitis
Inflammation and swelling of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction around the joint. Repetitive movements such as running, or sustained pressure, can irritate it. Symptoms are often worse when lying on the painful side and in the mornings. We can treat tight muscles with soft tissue techniques, address other joints, and advise on exercise and stretching.
Groin strain
Often linked to running or breast-stroke, where muscles such as the adductors and psoas become strained. Treating strains early helps prevent scar tissue and chronic shortening of the muscle.
Snapping hip (dancer’s hip)
A clicking or snapping sensation around the hip when flexing or extending, caused when the iliotibial band or psoas flicks over a bony prominence. While not harmful in itself, it can be uncomfortable and may lead to conditions such as bursitis.
Pubic symphysis disorder (PSD/SPD)
Pain and tenderness where the pelvic bones meet at the front. It is common in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to the hormone relaxin, and in athletes such as runners, dancers and footballers. Treatment aims to improve the mobility of the hips, sacro-iliac joints, back and legs.
How an osteopath can help
- Using gentle techniques suited to your age, fitness and diagnosis, we reduce muscular tension and improve movement in the hip joint, through massage, rhythmic articulation and, where appropriate, gentle manipulation.
- Treatment is individual and may involve related areas such as the back, knees and ankles.
- We offer advice on posture, exercise and stretching to keep the hip and surrounding muscles relaxed.
- Where needed, we may refer you to your GP for scans or further investigation.
