Hip Pain Treatment in Hayes, West London
Whether hip pain is affecting walking, sitting, sleeping, exercise or everyday life, treatment is tailored to help you get out of pain, move more comfortably and get back to doing what matters most.
Hip pain can make everyday activities surprisingly difficult - from climbing stairs and getting in and out of the car to putting on your shoes, exercising or getting comfortable in bed. Pain may be felt in the groin, around the outside of the hip, in the buttock or into the thigh.
Symptoms may develop gradually over time or appear more suddenly following an injury, change in activity or increase in exercise. Sometimes pain felt around the hip can also originate from the lower back or surrounding structures.
Who you'll see
You'll be seen by Arjun Mehra, dual-qualified osteopath and chartered physiotherapist. Your treatment and rehabilitation come from the same person, start to finish, with over a decade of experience helping people reduce pain and stay active.
Appointments usually available within 48 hours, Monday - Thursday.
The Painful Hip
Hip pain may be felt deep in the groin, around the outside of the hip, in the buttock or into the thigh. Symptoms may develop gradually or become noticeable following an injury, change in activity or increase in exercise.
There are several possible causes of hip pain. Symptoms can arise from the hip joint itself, the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip, or structures around the pelvis, while pain felt around the hip can sometimes originate from the lower back.
You may notice:
Pain in the groin, outside of the hip or buttock
Pain walking or climbing stairs
Pain lying on one side at night
Pain getting in or out of the car
Difficulty putting on shoes or socks
Pain during running, squatting or sport
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Gluteal Tendinopathy)
Pain over the outside of the hip is commonly associated with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS), often involving the gluteal tendons. Symptoms may develop gradually, particularly following an increase in walking, running or exercise, and can become worse when lying on the affected side, walking longer distances, climbing stairs or standing on one leg.
Although sometimes called hip bursitis, the gluteal tendons are commonly involved, with the bursa sometimes becoming irritated alongside them.
Shockwave therapy is also available for persistent gluteal tendinopathy, learn more about Shockwave Therapy.
Hip Flexor Tendinopathy
The hip flexor muscles and tendons, particularly the iliopsoas and rectus femoris, help lift your knee during walking, climbing stairs and running. When these tissues become irritated or overloaded, pain is often felt at the front of the hip or groin and may be aggravated by lifting the knee, walking uphill, climbing stairs, running or getting out of the car after sitting for prolonged periods.
Adductor-Related Groin Pain
The adductor muscles and tendons run along the inside of the thigh and help control the hip during walking, running and changes of direction. When these tissues become irritated or overloaded, pain is commonly felt around the groin or inner thigh.
Sprinting, changing direction, kicking, lunging or squeezing the knees together may reproduce symptoms, while movements such as stepping sideways or getting in and out of the car can also become uncomfortable.
Femoro-acetabular Impingement (FAI) & Labral Irritation
Femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) describes differences in the shape of the ball or socket of the hip that can become symptomatic during certain movements or activities. Pain is commonly felt deep in the groin, particularly with deeper hip positions such as squatting, prolonged sitting or some sporting movements.
The labrum, a ring of cartilage around the hip socket, can also become irritated or injured and contribute to groin pain. Some people may notice clicking, catching or a feeling of restriction alongside their pain.
The Stiff Hip
Hip stiffness can develop gradually over time or become noticeable following an injury, surgery or a period of reduced activity. You may find that movements which once felt easy become increasingly restricted or uncomfortable.
Stiffness is often most noticeable with deeper hip movements, such as putting on shoes and socks, crossing your legs, getting in and out of the car or squatting. Some people notice stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting for longer periods.
Common signs of a stiff hip include:
Difficulty putting on shoes or socks
Difficulty crossing your legs
Stiffness getting in or out of the car
Reduced movement when bending or squatting
Morning stiffness or stiffness after sitting
Feeling like your hip doesn't move as freely as it used to
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
FAI can be associated with reduced hip movement as well as pain, particularly when bringing the hip into deeper positions. You may notice restriction or discomfort when squatting, sitting in a low chair, bringing the knee towards the chest or rotating the hip.
Some people naturally have CAM or Pincer morphology without experiencing symptoms, so these findings don't automatically mean there is a problem with the hip.
Reduced Hip Mobility
Not all hip stiffness is associated with arthritis or structural changes within the joint. Prolonged periods of sitting, reduced activity, previous injuries or changes in flexibility and strength can all contribute to a hip that feels stiff or restricted.
You may notice difficulty squatting, crossing your legs, putting on shoes and socks or moving comfortably during exercise, sometimes with relatively little pain.
Hip Osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis involves changes within the ball-and-socket joint that develop gradually over time. When these changes become symptomatic, they can contribute to pain, stiffness and reduced movement through the hip.
Pain is often felt in the groin, around the front or side of the hip, and sometimes into the thigh. You may notice increasing difficulty with walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of the car, putting on shoes and socks or moving the hip into deeper positions.
Numbness, Tingling & Burning
Not all symptoms around the hip or thigh come from the muscles, tendons or hip joint. Burning, tingling, numbness or altered sensation can occur when a nerve becomes irritated or compressed, either around the hip and pelvis or further up in the lower back.
You may notice:
Burning pain over the outside of the thigh
Tingling or numbness around the hip or upper leg
Pain into the buttock or down the leg
Altered sensation around the thigh
Symptoms that worsen with prolonged standing, walking or sitting
Weakness or a feeling that the leg doesn't move normally
Meralgia Paraesthetica
The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies sensation to the outer part of the thigh. When this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it can cause burning pain, tingling or numbness over the outside of the thigh.
Symptoms can be aggravated by prolonged standing or walking, tight clothing or belts, and changes in body weight can also contribute.
Piriformis Syndrome/Deep Gluteal Syndrome
Pririformis Syndrome describes irritation of the sciatic nerve within the buttock region. Symptoms can include deep buttock pain, sometimes alongside tingling, numbness or discomfort travelling into the back of the thigh or further down the leg.
Symptoms can become more noticeable with prolonged sitting, walking or certain sporting activities. You may also hear this described as piriformis syndrome, although several structures within the deep gluteal region can contribute.
Referred Pain from the Lower Back
Symptoms felt around the hip don't always originate from the hip itself. Problems involving the lower back can cause pain into the buttock, hip or thigh, while irritation of a nerve in the lower back can also produce tingling, numbness or weakness into the leg.
Some people experience relatively little lower-back pain despite having more noticeable symptoms around the hip or leg.
The Weak or Unstable Hip
Not every hip problem causes significant pain. Some people notice weakness, reduced balance or a feeling that the hip isn't supporting them properly, particularly when walking, climbing stairs or standing on one leg.
The gluteal muscles and tendons play an important role in supporting and controlling the hip and pelvis. Reduced strength or problems affecting the gluteal tendons can leave the hip feeling weak or less reliable during walking, exercise or prolonged standing.
Weakness can also develop following an injury or hip surgery, when strength, balance and confidence may need to be gradually rebuilt.
You may notice:
Feeling like your hip gives way
Difficulty standing on one leg
Reduced balance
Weakness climbing stairs
Difficulty walking longer distances
Reduced confidence returning to sport or exercise
Hip Pain During Gym & Sport
The hips absorb significant force during training, and how deep you squat, the shape of your hip and how quickly you've added load can all influence what you feel. Pinching at the bottom of a squat is common and doesn't usually mean something is damaged; sometimes changing the depth, stance or position can make the movement more comfortable.
Symptoms often follow an increase in training volume or intensity, a new exercise, or returning to sport after time away. That doesn't usually mean stopping. Training can often be adjusted while symptoms settle, then built back up as the hip tolerates more.
You may notice:
Pain or pinching at the bottom of a squat
Pain during squats or lunges
Discomfort during deadlifts or hip thrusts
Pain during running, sprinting or changing direction
Pain after training or the following day
Symptoms appearing as training volume or intensity increases
Hip Pain at Work
Different jobs place different demands on the hips, whether you're sitting at a desk, driving, working on your feet or doing a physically demanding job. Symptoms can become more noticeable during prolonged sitting or standing, or during a particularly busy working day.
For desk-based work, workstation setup and ergonomics can be relevant, particularly if sitting for longer periods aggravates your hip. Regularly changing position and moving throughout the day can also be useful.
For more physical jobs, repeated lifting, carrying, bending, squatting or working in awkward positions can aggravate symptoms when the hip isn't currently coping well with the workload.
Driving can also be uncomfortable, particularly with prolonged sitting or repeatedly getting in and out of a vehicle.
You may notice:
Pain after prolonged sitting
Pain getting in and out of vehicles
Pain lifting, bending or carrying at work
Pain after long periods of standing or walking
Symptoms that gradually worsen throughout the day
Difficulty performing your normal duties comfortably
Recovering After Hip Surgery
Recovery after hip surgery varies depending on the type of surgery, stage of recovery and activities you want to return to. Rehabilitation plays an important role in rebuilding movement, strength and confidence as you progress.
You may benefit from rehabilitation if you're:
Recovering from a hip replacement
Recovering after hip arthroscopy
Recovering following gluteal tendon repair
Recovering after surgery for a hip fracture
Struggling with stiffness or weakness after surgery
Looking to return to work, sport or everyday activities
Hands-on treatment can help with pain, stiffness and surrounding muscular tightness, alongside rehabilitation to progressively rebuild movement, strength and function. Treatment will be adapted to your procedure and stage of recovery, while working within your surgeon's post-operative guidelines and any restrictions they've provided.
How We Treat Hip Pain
Treatment may combine hands-on techniques to help with pain and restricted movement, with exercises to improve hip mobility, strength and capacity.
Your assessment helps guide what you need. We have a broad range of treatment techniques and tools available, allowing treatment to be adapted to you rather than following a set approach. For some longer-standing tendon problems around the hip, shockwave therapy may also be considered alongside rehabilitation. Temporary adjustments to movements, positions or activities that are aggravating your symptoms may also help while gradually building strength and tolerance.
What Patients Say
Hip FAQs
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Hip pain can originate from the joint itself, the surrounding muscles and tendons, nearby bursae or even the lower back. The location of your pain, how it started and which movements aggravate your symptoms all help identify the underlying cause.
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Pain when lying on your side is commonly associated with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS), where the gluteal tendons become irritated around the outside of the hip. It's often mistaken for hip bursitis, although the gluteal tendons are commonly the main source of symptoms.
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Not always. Groin pain can originate from the hip joint, the adductor muscles, hip flexor tendons or the lower back, but in some cases it may be caused by an inguinal or femoral hernia. Hernias are more likely if you notice a lump in the groin or pain that worsens with coughing, sneezing, straining or heavy lifting. A thorough assessment can help determine the underlying cause and whether further medical assessment is needed.
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Yes. Pain, tingling or numbness around the hip or thigh doesn't always originate from the hip itself. Irritation of the nerves in the lower back can sometimes cause symptoms to spread into the buttock, hip or leg, which is why a thorough assessment looks beyond the hip joint alone.
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Not always. Many hip conditions can be diagnosed through a detailed history and physical examination. Imaging is usually recommended when it's likely to change the diagnosis or influence the most appropriate treatment plan.
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In many cases, yes. Hip pain doesn't automatically mean you need to stop exercising. By identifying which movements are aggravating your symptoms, it's often possible to modify your training, manage your exercise load and continue exercising safely while your hip settles.n
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Not necessarily. Although surgery can be the right option for some people, many hip conditions, including tendon problems, hip impingement and even some cases of osteoarthritis,can often be managed successfully without an operation. If surgery is recommended, rehabilitation before and after the procedure plays an important role in helping you achieve the best possible outcome.
Not Sure What's Causing Your Hip Pain?
Hip pain can have a number of different causes, and you don't need to know exactly what's wrong before booking. That's what the assessment is for.
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re dealing with pain, stiffness, injury, or simply want to move better, we’re here to help. Get in touch and we’ll guide you in the right direction.
☎︎︎ Phone: 0203 773 5310
/ 07983 656 671
✉︎︎ Email: info@jigsawosteopathy.com
⌖︎ Clinic location: 70 Seaton Rd, Hayes, UB3 1NU
➜︎ Directions: View on Google Maps →
◷︎ Opening Hours: By Appointment Only | Monday – Thursday | 9am - 7pm
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