By kkhealthcarecentre 
The hip joint is one of the most heavily used parts of our body. Whether you’re heading to the bathroom, picking something up, or even just coughing, the hip joint bears a lot of stress. Athletes, like runners, put a lot of impact on their hips with every footstrike. But it’s not just athletes; anyone can harm their hip joint by either overusing or underusing it.
In this article, I’m going to talk about some common reasons for hip pain, looking at both the inner and outer areas of the hip joint. Hip pain can be caused by anything from bad posture to cartilage damage.
Causes of Hip Pain
1. Hip Fractures
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone, usually due to high-impact injuries like those from sports or car accidents. Young people might not notice the pain immediately, which can delay diagnosis. It’s essential to get any discomfort in this area checked by a physiotherapist. For those over 60, a hip fracture is particularly serious as it can lead to further complications, keep someone sedentary, and increase risks like blood clots.
2. Athletic Pubalgia
Known as sports hernia, this muscle injury happens in the pubic area, commonly affecting sports players like ice hockey stars. It causes groin pain during or after activity. This is due to tendon tears or nerve problems near the hip area, and even simple actions like coughing can cause significant pain.
3. Bursitis
This condition involves inflammation of small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae, located where muscles meet joints. When bursitis strikes near the hip, it leads to outer hip pain, known as trochanteric bursitis.
4. Osteoarthritis
This joint condition stems from long-term joint damage, incorrect exercise form, or even poorly fitting shoes. It can also be hereditary. Those doing physical labor or who are overweight may be more at risk. Osteoarthritis causes dull, continuous pain as the cartilage wears away, leading to joint inflammation and stiffness.
5. Tendinitis
This is an injury or infection in the tendons—fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones. Repetitive movements using the same muscle groups can cause discomfort, soreness, and restricted movement due to tendinitis.
Treatments for Hip Pain
1. Occupational Therapy
This therapy helps people adapt their work habits to ease pain. If your job is behind your hip pain, an occupational therapist can suggest ways to adjust your routine, such as using supportive footwear or improving posture.
2. Physiotherapy
A physiotherapist can create a tailored exercise plan to strengthen affected muscles and improve mobility. Activities like yoga and pilates are often recommended. Yoga helps correct posture while pilates can aid weight loss and core strength, ideal for those whose hip pain is weight-related.
3. Medications
Over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and pain. For more serious cases like rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs can slow disease progression.
4. Steroid Injections
Administered by a physician, these injections can quickly lessen inflammation and pain, particularly for hip arthritis sufferers. They confirm the pain’s source and provide rapid relief.
5. Hip Replacement Surgery
This is a last resort, typically suggested when other treatments fail. It can significantly improve quality of life by eliminating pain. An evaluation by a surgeon is the first step if considering this option.
Conclusion
Ignoring hip pain or delaying treatment can make recovery harder and may lead to costly surgeries. Early diagnosis and management can ease stress and make hip problems more treatable. If you’re considering getting your hip checked, it’s a good idea to do so!