Front of Hip Pain
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Hip Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of the hip joint cartilage, reducing range of motion and causes stiffening, swelling and pain. This is usually caused by poor walking/running biomechanics, exercise technique and jamming of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form which occurs when the body attacks its own joint tissue by mistaking itself for attacking foreign pathogens. This causes cartilage loss and joint pain, instability and deformity. Hip pain while walking or running is the main symptom, a ‘crunching’ sound and thickening or swelling, with the joint becoming stiffer the longer it progresses, especially in the morning.
Inflammatory Arthritis
Is a form of Inflammatory Arthritis which is characterised by the pain being often eased with activity, unlike osteoarthritis known as Ankylosing spondylitis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Stress Fractures and Fracture
Stress fractures are caused by overuse when the bone is constantly under extraordinary stress. When enough stress is placed on the bone, it cracks. This can be due to muscle fatigue, imbalance or poor biomechanics. When muscles become irritated or tired, they stop absorbing shock and transfer all forces to the bones. Fractures occur with a sudden impact injury.
Iliopsoas Bursitis
Bursitis is the irritation or inflammation of a bursa (sack of fluid), the bursa of the hip cushions the inner/groin side of the hip (iliopsoas bursa). Commonly found in runners and soccer players, the symptoms cause front (anterior) hip pain that may radiate forward (Groin) or backward (buttock) area. People often feel a snapping, popping or catching sensation in the hip.
Hip Flexor Strain
The Hip flexor muscles connect the hip to the knee and flex the leg get strained. Pain is felt in the front of the hip and lower abdomen, hip flexor strains may result in swelling, restricted movement, and muscle weakness.
Osteonecrosis of the Hip
Less commonly, Osteonecrosis of the hip occurs when the hip or pelvic bone has an obstructed blood supply, leading to necroses (dead) cells and destruction of the hip joint. Usually a result of corticosteroid use. The symptoms cause front (anterior) hip pain that may radiate forward (Groin), backwards (buttock) or down the thigh.
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
When a bony growth develops around the hip bone which restricts movement and eventually cause tears of the cartilage-like tissue that connects the outer rim of your hip socket and hip osteoarthritis. In femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) the symptoms include an ache or sharp pain with prolonged sitting in the groin area that moves toward the outside of the hip. Stiffness and limping are also common.
Lateral Hip Pain.
Trochanteric Bursitis
Irritation and inflammation of the ‘cushion’ (bursa) in your hip, this causes sharp lateral hip pain that often spreads down into the thigh and knee. The pain is usually worse at night or when being physical like walking or running. Over time, the pain may evolve into a deep aching pain that spreads over a larger area of the hip.
Hip Labrum/Ligament Tear
The Hip cartilage-like tissue that connects the outer rim of your hip socket that helps to support the joint and create a deeper socket, tears. A tear usually occurs due to overuse or a fall, pain can be dull or sharp pain the front of the hip pain.
Posterior Hip Pain
Hamstring Muscle strain
When the muscles on the back of your thigh that helps flex the knee and extend the hip (Hamstring Muscles) get strained. Athletes are more at risk, especially in sudden stop and start sports. Symptoms include pain at the back of the thigh or knee, sometimes the sides of the knee, a “pop” sound, swelling, tenderness, sometimes bruising and discoloration on the back of the leg.
Sacroiliac Joint Problem
The joint that connects the lower spine to the pelvis becomes affected by arthritis of the joint, infection or joint ligament injury (sacroiliac joint -SIJ). The pain is usually sharp and/or burning, which is often worse with standing and walking, and may radiate from the hip down the back of the leg.
Piriformis Syndrome or Sciatica
Occurs when the hip nerve (sciatic nerve) becomes irritated or compressed by the back of the hip muscle (piriformis muscle), which is located deep within the buttock (Guteal muscles). The burning or aching pain typically starts in the posterior/back of the hip and radiates down toward the knee.
Side of Hip Pain
Butt/ Gluteus Pain
When the muscles that move the leg outwards away from the body centre, move the body from side to side and assist in squat movements become irritated. The Buttock (gluteals muscles) become painful with sharp pain in the butt and hip, swelling, pain when moving the legs together or raising the knees, and is based on anatomy location.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
Treatment involves a variety of methods based on your activity, biomechanics, whether it came on quickly or gradually and what the root cause is. Here are some treatment modalities that are used to treat hip problems.
