Hip pain is common at every age and it usually responds well to conservative care. Most cases improve with an accurate assessment, hands-on treatment and a graded strengthening program.
Hip pain shows up in different places for different reasons. Pain on the outer hip usually points to the gluteal tendons, groin pain often involves the joint itself, and buttock pain can travel from the low back. Because the causes differ, an accurate assessment matters more here than almost anywhere else.
The reassuring news is that most hip pain responds well to conservative care. Strengthening is well supported by research for gluteal tendinopathy and hip osteoarthritis alike, and our physiotherapists combine it with hands-on treatment to settle pain while you rebuild. Very few people with hip pain ever need surgery.
Physiotherapy for hip pain is covered by most extended health plans, and we bill them directly so you pay only what your plan does not. If your pain follows a car crash or workplace injury, ICBC or WorkSafeBC may apply; ICBC pre-approves up to 25 physiotherapy visits.
Hip pain can sit on the outer hip, deep in the groin or through the buttock. Where you feel it, and what aggravates it, tells us a lot.
Aching over the bony point, worse lying on that side
A deep ache with walking that can suggest joint involvement
The hip loosens up after a few minutes of moving
Climbing loads the gluteal tendons and the joint itself
May come from the hip or refer from the back
Reduced rotation makes bending and crossing the leg harder
A small number of hip presentations need immediate medical attention rather than physiotherapy. See a doctor or go to an emergency department first if you notice any of the following.
Several distinct conditions produce hip pain, and each is treated differently. These are the ones we see most often.
The tendons of the gluteal muscles become irritated by compression and overload at the outer hip. It is especially common in women over 40, causing pain when lying on that side, climbing stairs and walking, and it responds well to load management and strengthening.
Most commonGradual change in the joint cartilage, usually after age 50. Pain is felt in the groin or deep in the hip, with morning stiffness and reduced rotation. Exercise therapy is a first-line treatment in international guidelines.
A strain of the adductor muscles on the inner thigh, common in soccer, hockey and running. Pain flares with sprinting, kicking and quick changes of direction, and it settles with rest from aggravating activity and progressive strengthening.
Irritation of the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the outer hip, often occurring alongside gluteal tendinopathy. Direct pressure, prolonged standing and repetitive activity aggravate it, so treatment targets both the irritated tissue and the habits that load it.
The low back and hip share nerve supply, so a spine problem can present as buttock or outer hip pain with little back pain at all. A careful assessment screens the spine so treatment targets the true source.
In younger, active adults the shape of the joint can pinch structures at the front of the hip during deep bending, causing groin pain with squatting and pivoting sports. Many cases improve with movement retraining and strengthening.
We test strength, range and movement patterns, screen your low back and check for red flags, so treatment targets the actual source of your pain rather than a guess.
You leave your first visit knowing what is driving the pain, which positions to modify for now, such as crossing your legs or lying on the sore side, and what recovery typically looks like.
Manual therapy, soft tissue work and dry needling where appropriate help settle pain and restore hip motion, so strengthening can start sooner and feel more comfortable.
A graded strengthening program rebuilds the gluteal and hip muscles, restores walking tolerance and returns you to sport or activity, with habits that reduce the chance of it coming back.
It depends on the diagnosis. Groin strains often settle within a few weeks. Gluteal tendinopathy typically needs 8 to 12 weeks of progressive loading. Hip osteoarthritis is managed rather than fixed, and most people improve meaningfully within 6 to 12 weeks of exercise therapy.
Your plan is built around your diagnosis and your goals. These are the services we most often draw on for hip pain.
Assessment, manual therapy and a progressive strengthening program form the foundation of care for gluteal tendinopathy, hip osteoarthritis and groin strains.
Focused acoustic waves that can stimulate healing in stubborn gluteal tendinopathy that has not responded to load management alone.
Fine needles release tight trigger points through the glutes and hip flexors that restrict movement and add to outer hip pain.
Registered massage therapy eases muscle guarding through the glutes, hip flexors and low back so daily movement and exercise feel more comfortable.
Supervised active rehabilitation that progresses your strengthening safely week to week, especially useful for ICBC claims and longer osteoarthritis programs.
A drug-free complement some patients find helpful for easing hip and groin pain while their strengthening program takes effect.
Our friendly team is happy to help. Reach us during clinic hours. We are open 8:00am to 8:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Book an appointmentYou often cannot tell on your own, because the two regions share nerve supply and buttock pain is common to both. A physiotherapy assessment tests both areas with specific movements to identify the true source, which matters before choosing any treatment.
Usually not. Most hip conditions are diagnosed with a physical assessment, and imaging rarely changes early treatment. If your history or examination suggests something that needs a scan, such as pain after a fall, we will tell you and communicate with your doctor.
Side-lying compresses the gluteal tendons and bursa over the bony point of the hip, which is the hallmark of gluteal tendinopathy. A pillow between the knees, avoiding the sore side and a strengthening program usually improve night pain over several weeks.
Exercise therapy is a first-line treatment for hip osteoarthritis in clinical guidelines, and most people improve their pain and function without surgery. If your arthritis is advanced, physiotherapy still helps you stay strong before and after a possible joint replacement.
Keep moving within comfortable limits. Complete rest tends to weaken the very muscles the hip relies on. We help you find the right amount of walking and activity for your stage of recovery, then build it up gradually as the hip settles.
We are open 8:00am to 8:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with direct billing to most plans, and no doctor's referral is needed for most extended health coverage.
