Hip Pain Treatment in Loughton

Understanding Hip Pain

The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint surrounded by some of the largest and strongest muscles in the body. It carries your weight every time you walk, climb stairs or get out of a chair, so when it hurts, everyday life can feel restricted. Hip pain is also easy to misread. The pain you feel may come from the hip joint itself, from the tendons and muscles around it, from the lower back, or from the groin and pelvis.

Where you feel the pain gives a useful clue. Pain in the groin or deep in the front of the hip often points to the joint. Pain on the outer side of the hip, particularly when lying on that side, often points to the tendons and bursa around the bony point of the hip. Pain in the buttock may come from the muscles around the hip or from the lower back.

Common Causes of Hip Pain We Treat

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (often called hip bursitis): pain on the outer hip, often worse when lying on that side, climbing stairs or after walking. It is usually linked to irritation of the gluteal tendons rather than simple inflammation.
Hip osteoarthritis: gradual wear of the joint, causing stiffness, aching and reduced movement, often in the groin or thigh.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): a shape difference at the hip that can cause pinching pain, particularly when bending the hip, often in active younger adults.
Groin strains and adductor problems: common in football, rugby and running.
Hip flexor tendon pain: pain at the front of the hip, often linked to sprinting, kicking or high training loads.
Referred pain from the lower back: the spine can send pain to the buttock, hip and thigh.
Pain after hip surgery: stiffness and weakness after hip replacement or arthroscopy that responds well to rehab.

When to See a Physiotherapist

It is sensible to book an assessment if hip pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, if it limits walking, sleeping or exercise, if it keeps returning, or if you are not sure what is causing it. Because hip pain can come from several sources, a proper assessment saves time and avoids treating the wrong area.

Warning Signs: When to Seek Urgent Help

Seek urgent medical attention if you cannot weight-bear after a fall or injury, the leg looks shortened or turned out, you have sudden severe pain with fever or feeling unwell, you notice a hot, red, swollen hip, or you have numbness around the groin or loss of bladder or bowel control. Call 999 or attend A&E for these.

What Happens at Your Assessment

We start with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, history, activity and goals. We then examine how you stand, walk, squat and move, test the strength and range of the hip, and check the lower back and pelvis, since these often contribute. We explain what we think is going on in plain English, and in most cases begin treatment in the same session.

Treatment for Hip Pain

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, and typically combines:

Hands-on therapy to ease pain and stiffness
Progressive strengthening, particularly of the gluteal and hip muscles
Load management and advice on activity, walking, sitting and sleeping positions
Movement retraining for running, lifting and everyday tasks
Dry needling or shockwave for stubborn tendon problems, as part of a wider plan
Onward referral for scans, injections or a surgical opinion where appropriate

Hip Pain and Sleep

Hip pain often disturbs sleep, particularly when lying on the affected side. Lying on your back with a pillow under the knees, or on your unaffected side with a pillow between the knees, can reduce strain on the hip. Avoid crossing the affected leg over the other.

Hip Replacement and Surgery Rehab

If you have had, or are waiting for, a hip replacement or hip arthroscopy, structured rehabilitation helps restore strength, walking and confidence. We follow your surgeon's protocol and can start preparation before surgery. See our post-operative rehabilitation service for more.

Do I Need a Scan?

Not always. Many hip problems can be assessed and treated without imaging. A scan may be useful if there has been a significant injury, if symptoms are not following the expected pattern or if surgery is being considered. We can advise and arrange onward referral, including MRI or ultrasound.

Getting Started

You can book directly with no GP referral, and same-week appointments are usually available. If you are insured, our insurance pages explain how to check your cover and authorisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hip pain has many causes, including tendon irritation around the outer hip (often called bursitis), osteoarthritis, groin strains, hip impingement and pain referred from the lower back. A proper assessment identifies the source.

It depends on the cause. Tendon-related hip pain often improves over weeks to a few months with the right loading, while arthritis and post-surgical recovery can take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline after your assessment.

A short period of reducing aggravating activity can help, but long periods of complete rest tend to weaken the muscles that support the hip. Gentle movement and appropriate exercise are usually part of recovery.

For many people, walking within a comfortable level is helpful, but the right amount depends on the cause. If walking significantly worsens your pain, get it assessed.

Not usually at first. Many hip problems can be diagnosed clinically. We will advise if imaging would change what we do, and can arrange referral if needed.