Hip Pain
Causes, conditions, and how physical therapy helps
What causes hip pain?
The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint built for both stability and a wide range of motion, surrounded by strong muscles and tendons. Pain appears when demand outpaces what these tissues can handle. Where it hurts helps locate the cause.
Joint and cartilage causes (often groin pain)
Wear of the joint cartilage (hip osteoarthritis), a tear of the labrum (the rim around the socket), or impingement (bones contacting at end range) typically cause pain felt in the groin or deep in the front of the hip, with stiffness and limited rotation.
Tendon and outer-hip causes (often side pain)
Pain on the outer hip is usually from the gluteal tendons (gluteal tendinopathy) or the bursa there (bursitis), and is often worse lying on that side or with single-leg activities.
Muscle and other causes
A hip flexor strain causes front-of-hip pain after sprinting or kicking, while piriformis or deep-buttock issues and a snapping hip sensation round out the common picture. Back problems can also refer pain to the hip.
Common hip conditions
Hip osteoarthritis, gluteal tendinopathy, bursitis, labral tears, impingement, hip flexor strain, piriformis syndrome, and snapping hip are the conditions we see most. Each has its own detailed guide.
Common hip symptoms
Pain walking, night pain lying on your side, deep front-of-hip pain, groin pain, and stiffness getting in and out of the car are some of the most common patterns. Where and when it hurts hints at the cause — which is why a focused exam usually beats rushing to an MRI.
How physical therapy treats hip pain
A physical therapist examines how your hip, pelvis, and lower back move together, tests strength and motion, and identifies which tissues are overloaded. Treatment commonly blends targeted strengthening (especially the glutes and deep hip muscles), mobility work, movement retraining, and load management. For most hip problems, exercise-based PT is a first-line, guideline-supported treatment.
Red flags — when to seek urgent care
Seek emergency care if you can't put weight on the leg after a fall, the leg looks shortened or rotated, or the joint is hot and swollen with a fever. Also seek prompt evaluation for hip pain with unexplained weight loss, night pain, or a history of cancer.
Guides
Clicking or Snapping in the Hip? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Painless clicking or snapping in the hip is usually harmless — most often a tendon gliding over a bony bump (snapping hip). It rarely needs treatment beyond improving hip strength and control. Clicking that comes with pain, catching, or a feeling of locking is more meaningful and may involve the labrum, so it's worth a physical therapy assessment.
1 min read
Deep Pain in the Front of the Hip? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Deep pain at the front of the hip or in the groin usually points to the hip joint itself — commonly impingement (FAI), a labral issue, or early arthritis — or a hip flexor strain in the muscle. It often flares with deep bending, squatting, sitting low, or pivoting. It's usually not an emergency, and physical therapy that strengthens and controls the hip helps most people. Pain you can't bear weight on after a fall needs urgent care.
1 min read
Do I Need Physical Therapy for Hip Pain?
Consider physical therapy if your hip pain has lasted more than 1–2 weeks, limits walking, stairs, or sleep, or keeps coming back. See a doctor first for red flags like an inability to bear weight after a fall, a deformed leg, or a hot, feverish joint. In most U.S. states you can see a PT directly without a referral.
1 min read
Glute Tendon Pain (Gluteal Tendinopathy): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Gluteal tendinopathy is irritation and overload of the gluteal tendons where they attach to the outer hip — the most common cause of persistent outer-hip pain, especially in women in midlife. It hurts on the side of the hip, often worse lying on that side, climbing stairs, or after standing on one leg. The proven treatment is progressive strengthening plus load management, not rest or repeated injections.
1 min read
Hip and Groin Pain? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Groin pain is the hip joint's signature location — when hip and groin pain go together, the cause is usually inside the joint, like osteoarthritis, impingement, or a labral issue, or sometimes a hip flexor or adductor (inner-thigh) strain. It's typically not an emergency, and physical therapy that strengthens and controls the hip helps most people. Inability to bear weight after a fall, or groin pain with fever, needs urgent care.
1 min read
Hip Arthritis (Osteoarthritis): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Hip osteoarthritis is gradual wear of the joint's cartilage, causing groin pain, stiffness, and reduced motion that's worse with weight-bearing and after rest. It's common with age, but it's not a reason to stop moving — exercise and strengthening are first-line treatments that reduce pain and keep you active for many people. PT can delay or help you avoid surgery. Joint replacement is reserved for advanced cases.
1 min read
Hip Bursitis (Outer Hip Pain): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Hip bursitis is irritation of a fluid-filled cushion on the outer hip, causing pain on the side of the hip that's often worse lying on that side, climbing stairs, or after activity. Today, most "bursitis" on the outer hip is understood to involve the nearby gluteal tendons too, which is why strengthening — not just rest or injections — is key. Physical therapy is first-line and works well for most people.
1 min read
Hip Impingement (FAI): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is when the bones of the hip joint contact each other earlier than normal during movement — usually because of subtle differences in their shape — causing pinching groin pain with deep bending, squatting, or prolonged sitting. It's common in active people and often linked to labral irritation. Physical therapy that strengthens and improves hip control is first-line; surgery is for select cases.
1 min read
Hip Labral Tear: Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
The labrum is a rim of cartilage that deepens the hip socket and helps seal the joint. A tear can cause deep groin or front-of-hip pain, clicking or catching, and pain with deep bending, pivoting, or prolonged sitting. It's often linked to hip impingement. Many labral tears are managed well with physical therapy that strengthens and balances the hip; surgery is reserved for select cases.
1 min read
Hip Pain After Sitting? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Hip pain or stiffness after sitting for a while is common and usually mechanical — prolonged hip flexion irritates the joint (impingement or early arthritis), the deep buttock muscles (piriformis-type pain), or the hip flexors. It typically eases once you get up and move. Movement breaks, varying your sitting, and hip strengthening usually help. Persistent or worsening pain deserves a PT assessment.
1 min read
Hip Pain at Night Lying on Your Side? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Outer-hip pain that flares when you lie on that side at night is classic for gluteal tendinopathy or hip bursitis — lying on the side compresses the irritated tendons against the bone. It's not dangerous, but it can really disrupt sleep. Adjusting sleep position helps short-term, while progressive gluteal strengthening fixes the underlying cause. Night pain with weight loss or a history of cancer should be evaluated.
1 min read
Hip Pain Getting In and Out of the Car? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Hip pain getting in and out of the car is a classic sign of a hip-joint problem — the movement combines deep bending and rotation, which provokes arthritis, impingement, or a labral issue. It's usually a wear or shape-related problem rather than an emergency. Modifying how you enter the car and strengthening the hip help. Pain you can't bear weight on after a fall needs urgent care.
1 min read
Hip Pain Going Up Stairs? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Hip pain climbing stairs usually means the hip muscles — especially the glutes — are working hard against load on one leg, which flares gluteal tendinopathy, bursitis, or hip arthritis. It's typically an overload or wear issue, not an emergency. Strengthening the glutes and improving single-leg control usually help. Inability to bear weight after a fall, or a hot feverish joint, needs urgent care.
1 min read
Hip Pain When Walking? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Hip pain with walking depends a lot on where it hurts. Groin pain often points to the hip joint itself (like early arthritis or impingement), while outer-hip pain usually points to the gluteal tendons. It's commonly an overload or wear issue and rarely an emergency. Adjusting distance, strengthening the hips, and addressing the specific cause usually help. Inability to bear weight after a fall needs urgent care.
1 min read
Hip Stiffness in the Morning? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Hip stiffness that's worst in the morning and eases within about 30 minutes of moving is a common sign of hip osteoarthritis or general joint stiffness — and it's manageable. A short morning mobility routine and progressive strengthening usually help. Stiffness that lasts well over an hour, involves many joints, or comes with other symptoms is worth a medical check to rule out inflammatory causes.
1 min read
Pain in the Side of the Hip? Here's What It Means and What to Do
Pain on the outer side of the hip is most often gluteal tendinopathy or bursitis — irritation of the tendons and cushion at the bony point of the hip. It typically hurts lying on that side, climbing stairs, or standing on one leg. It's not dangerous, and the proven fix is progressive gluteal strengthening plus avoiding compressive positions — not rest or repeated injections.
1 min read
Piriformis Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Piriformis syndrome is deep buttock pain thought to come from the piriformis muscle irritating nearby tissue — and sometimes the sciatic nerve, which can mimic sciatica. It often flares with prolonged sitting or specific movements. It's not dangerous and usually responds to physical therapy that addresses hip and buttock strength and mobility. Because true sciatica from the back can look similar, an exam matters to sort out the cause.
1 min read
Pulled Hip Flexor (Hip Flexor Strain): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
A pulled hip flexor is a strain of the muscles at the front of the hip that lift your thigh, usually from sprinting, kicking, or a sudden movement. It causes front-of-hip or upper-groin pain that's worse lifting the knee or stretching the hip back. It's rarely serious and most strains heal within a few weeks with relative rest and progressive strengthening. Physical therapy speeds recovery and helps prevent re-injury.
1 min read
Snapping Hip Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Snapping hip is a snapping or popping sensation when you move the hip, caused by a tendon gliding over a bony bump — at the outer hip or the front of the hip. When it's painless, it's usually harmless and just needs better hip control and strength. When it's painful or comes with catching, the labrum or a tendon may be irritated and it's worth a physical therapy assessment.
1 min read
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