Hip Pain

Hip pain can make walking, climbing stairs, sleeping on your side and getting in and out of the car harder than it should be. Whether it started with sport, came on gradually or follows hip surgery, our physiotherapy team will find where it is coming from and build a plan to get you moving comfortably again. We also guide recovery after hip replacement and arthroscopy.

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Hip pain isn’t always a hip problem. Pain can come from the joint itself, the tendons and muscles around it, or be referred from your lower back. That’s why every plan at Altius starts with a thorough assessment, not a generic sheet of exercises.

Common Causes of Hip Pain We Treat

• Rehabilitation after hip surgery: including hip replacement and arthroscopy
• Pain on the outside of the hip: gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis, often worse lying on that side or climbing stairs
• Hip osteoarthritis: stiffness and groin pain that builds with activity, often manageable without surgery
• Groin pain and hip impingement: common in football, running and other sports that load the hip at end range
• Muscle strains: hip flexor, adductor (groin) and hamstring strains
• Referred pain from the lower back: buttock and hip pain that actually starts in the spine

Is it muscle, tendon or the joint?

As a rough guide, pain deep in the groin often comes from the hip joint, pain on the outside of the hip is more often tendon-related, and pain in the buttock can come from your lower back. Your physiotherapist will confirm the source at your assessment, because the right treatment depends on it.

How We Assess and Treat Hip Pain

Your first appointment includes a full assessment of your hip, lower back and the way you move, then a clear explanation of what is causing your pain and a plan you can start straight away. Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

Exercise Rehabilitation and Manual Physiotherapy

Progressive strengthening and hands-on treatment to reduce pain and restore the strength and control your hip needs for walking, work and sport. See our rehabilitation service.

Shockwave Therapy

For stubborn tendon pain on the outside of the hip, shockwave therapy can be added alongside your exercise programme. It is available at our Hale and Bury clinics.

Your Hip Pain Specialist Team

Our clinical lead, Woody Al-Zidgali, specialises in hip and groin injuries and return to sport, and several of our team have worked in professional sport. All our physiotherapists are HCPC registered.

Cost and insurance. A 45-minute initial physiotherapy assessment starts from £53 (see our self-pay prices). We work with Bupa, WPA, AXA and Aviva, and you can claim back through a workplace cash plan such as Medicash or Westfield. Paying for yourself? You don’t need a GP referral. Claiming on insurance? Check with your insurer first, as some need a referral or authorisation code.

Hip Pain: Frequently Asked Questions

Is physio good for hip pain?

Yes, for most people. Physiotherapy is a first-line treatment for tendon pain, muscle strains and hip osteoarthritis, and it is an important part of recovery after hip surgery.

How long will it take to get better?

It depends on the cause. Muscle strains often settle within weeks. Tendon problems and arthritis usually take longer and improve steadily over a few months of the right exercise. We’ll give you a realistic timescale at your first appointment.

Can hip pain start for no reason?

Yes. Tendon and joint pain often builds up gradually without a single injury. Sudden severe pain with heat, swelling or a high temperature is different: see the urgent signs below.

When should I see a doctor urgently?

Seek urgent medical help (NHS 111 or A&E) if you can’t put weight on your leg after a fall or injury, your hip is suddenly very painful, hot or swollen, you feel unwell with a high temperature, or your leg looks a different shape or length. After a hip replacement, also get help quickly for new sudden pain, a hip that gives way, or a swollen, hot or painful calf.