- Hip pain can come from the joint itself (arthritis), the tendons and bursa around it, or stiffness and weakness that overload nearby areas.
- A stiff or weak hip frequently drives knee and low back pain too, so treating it helps the whole chain.
- Physical therapy restores hip motion and rebuilds strength, often reducing pain and improving function substantially.
- For arthritis, rehab can reduce pain and delay surgery; after a hip replacement, we lead your recovery.
- No referral is needed in most cases. We see new patients within a few days at Cedar Mill, Tigard, and Milwaukie.
What is hip pain?
The hip is a deep, stable ball-and-socket joint built to carry load and propel you forward. When it hurts, the cause might be the joint itself — as in hip osteoarthritis — or the soft tissues around it, such as the bursa on the outside of the hip (bursitis) or the gluteal and other tendons that can become irritated and overloaded. Pain can be felt in the groin, the outside of the hip, the buttock, or the upper thigh, depending on the source.
Because the hip is the powerful link between the leg and the trunk, a stiff or weak hip rarely causes trouble only at the hip. It commonly forces the knee and the low back to compensate, which is why hip problems and knee or back pain so often travel together. Restoring hip mobility and strength frequently relieves symptoms up and down the chain.
At Creekside Physical Therapy, we identify the source of your hip pain, restore the joint’s motion, and rebuild the strength and control of the hip and core. For hip arthritis, this often reduces pain and delays or avoids surgery; after a hip replacement or other hip surgery, we follow your surgeon’s protocol and rebuild you safely. You work one-on-one with the same therapist throughout.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the top of the thigh bone sits deep in the socket of the pelvis, surrounded by strong muscles, tendons, and fluid-filled bursae that reduce friction. The gluteal muscles power walking and stabilize the pelvis with every step, and the deep hip muscles control rotation and balance. Because the hip is the foundation of the leg, weakness or stiffness here changes how the knee tracks and how the low back is loaded — which is why hip rehab so often improves problems above and below the joint as well.
What it feels like
Hip problems show up in several patterns depending on the source. Common symptoms include:
- Pain in the groin or front of the hip, often with arthritis
- Pain on the outside of the hip, especially lying on that side (bursitis or tendon irritation)
- Stiffness and reduced motion, particularly putting on shoes and socks or getting in and out of a car
- Aching in the buttock or upper thigh
- A limp or shortened stride
- Weakness with stairs, walking, or standing on one leg
- Hip stiffness that seems linked to knee or low back pain
Why it develops
Hip pain develops for several reasons, often in combination:
- Osteoarthritis and age-related joint changes
- Bursitis and gluteal tendon irritation on the outside of the hip
- Weakness in the gluteal and core muscles that stabilize the pelvis
- Stiffness that overloads the hip, knee, or low back
- Overuse from a sudden increase in walking, running, or activity
- Recovery after hip surgery or joint replacement
- Movement patterns that poorly distribute load through the hip
How we evaluate hip pain
Your first visit is a one-on-one physical therapy evaluation. Your therapist tests your hip’s range of motion, strength, and the movements that reproduce your symptoms, and examines how the hip, knee, low back, and pelvis work together. For post-surgical patients, we review your surgeon’s protocol. We do not perform imaging; if your history or exam suggests advanced arthritis or another problem that needs an X-ray or specialist, we coordinate with your physician. You leave the same day with a clear diagnosis and a plan.
How physical therapy treats it
Hip pain responds very well to physical therapy. Your one-on-one plan typically includes:
- Progressive strengthening of the gluteal and core muscles that stabilize the hip and pelvis
- Manual therapy to restore motion in a stiff or painful hip and calm irritated tissue
- Mobility and stretching work to recover lost hip range of motion
- Movement and gait retraining so the hip loads and propels you correctly
- Activity and load guidance for bursitis and tendon irritation
- Balance and single-leg control work
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) training to rebuild strength when a painful or post-surgical hip can’t tolerate heavy load
- A structured home exercise program to maintain motion and strength
When to seek care
- Hip pain or stiffness that has lasted more than a couple of weeks or keeps returning
- Pain that limits walking, stairs, dressing, or sleep
- A limp or a noticeably shortened stride
- Hip stiffness that seems to be driving your knee or low back pain
- Severe pain or inability to bear weight after an injury — get evaluated medically first
Hip pain is treated by Creekside’s physical therapists at all three clinics, including arthritis management, bursitis and tendon problems, and post-surgical recovery such as hip replacement rehab. When surgery is appropriate, we coordinate with your surgeon, follow their protocol, and lead your recovery afterward.