Conditions / Hip & Pelvic Pain

🦴 Hip & Pelvic Pain

Understand the common causes of hip and pelvic pain, what you can do about it, and when physiotherapy may help.

What is hip & pelvic pain?

Hip and pelvic pain can come from the joint itself, the surrounding muscles, or how you're moving day to day. It often responds well to the right guidance and a bit of patience.

Common causes

• Muscle or tendon strain around the hip
• Hip joint wear or early arthritis
• Pelvic or lower back mechanics affecting the hip
• Overuse from walking, running or repetitive movement
• Pregnancy-related changes in pelvic stability

Common symptoms

• Pain in the groin, side of the hip, or buttock
• Stiffness getting up from sitting
• Pain when walking, climbing stairs, or standing on one leg
• A feeling of instability in the hip
• Pain that spreads down the thigh

When to see a physiotherapist

• Is the pain affecting how you walk or stand on one leg?
• Has it lasted more than a couple of weeks?
• Does it feel unstable, or does the hip give way?
• Is it limiting your ability to exercise or do daily tasks?

How physiotherapy can help

A physiotherapist can assess whether the hip joint, surrounding muscles, or your movement pattern is behind the pain, and guide a plan to improve strength, stability and comfort.

Treatment approaches

• Personalised exercise therapy
• Hip and pelvic strengthening
• Movement and gait assessment
• Manual therapy where appropriate
• Activity modification advice
• Home exercise programme

What to expect at your first visit

Your physiotherapist will typically start by discussing your symptoms and history, then carry out an appropriate assessment. They'll talk through what they find in plain language, answer your questions, and work with you to build an individualised plan — there's no expectation that everything gets fixed in one visit.

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