Hip Pain

At a glance

The hip joint attaches the leg to the torso of the body. While many causes arise from structures within the joint itself, there are numerous structures surrounding the hip that can also be the source of pain. Movement at the hip joint is possible due to the muscles that surround the hip and the tendons that attach across the hip joint, allowing motion in different directions. Hip pain may arise from overuse injuries in which muscles, tendons and ligaments become inflamed. These injuries may be due to routine daily activities that may cause undue stress on the hip joint or because of a single strenuous event.

Hip pain can make everyday tasks, including getting in and out of a car or walking up a flight of stairs, nearly impossible, and may affect people of all ages. There are a number of underlying problems and health conditions that can lead to hip pain. Some happen suddenly and others may develop gradually over time.

Hip pain is a common problem, and can be confusing because there are many causes. Treatment depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore it is of utmost importance to understand the source of the symptoms before embarking on a treatment program.