Can Osteopathy Help Hip Pain?

Key Takeaways

Osteopathy may help support people experiencing hip pain through a combination of movement assessment, rehabilitation, hands-on treatment, education and self-management strategies. Osteopaths assess not only the hip itself, but also the lower back, pelvis, knees, feet and overall movement patterns that may influence how the hip functions and tolerates load.

Whether symptoms developed gradually over time or followed a sporting injury, osteopathic care aims to support comfortable movement, physical confidence and participation in the activities that matter most to you.

Understanding Hip Pain

Hip pain can affect people of all ages and activity levels.

For some, symptoms appear during sport, running or gym training. For others, discomfort develops gradually and begins to affect walking, sleeping, sitting, work activities or everyday movement.

The hip is one of the body’s largest and most important joints. It plays a key role in walking, running, climbing stairs, lifting, balance and transferring force between the upper and lower body.

Because the hip is involved in so many daily activities, discomfort can have a significant impact on quality of life.

Many people seeking osteopathic care want to understand why their hip pain developed, what may be contributing to it and how they can return to moving confidently.

At Integrated Sports and Spinal Clinic, our osteopaths take a whole-body, movement-focused approach to hip pain assessment and management.

What Does Hip Pain Feel Like?

Hip pain can present in many different ways.

People may experience:

Pain in the front of the hip or groin
Pain on the side of the hip
Deep aching within the hip joint
Buttock pain
Stiffness when walking
Discomfort after sitting
Pain during running
Difficulty sleeping on one side
Pain climbing stairs
Reduced mobility
Difficulty exercising

The location and behaviour of symptoms often provide valuable information during assessment.

Interestingly, not all pain felt around the hip necessarily originates from the hip joint itself.

This is one reason a comprehensive assessment is important.

What Causes Hip Pain?

Hip pain can arise from a variety of factors.

Common contributors may include:

Sporting injuries
Running-related injuries
Gym-related strain
Tendon irritation
Changes in training load
Reduced strength and conditioning
Lower back influences
Reduced hip mobility
Occupational demands
Pregnancy-related changes
Hypermobility
Previous injuries
Arthritis and age-related changes

In many cases, symptoms are influenced by multiple factors rather than a single structural problem.

Understanding these contributing factors often helps guide management and rehabilitation.

How Osteopathy May Help Hip Pain

Hands-On Osteopathic Treatment

Hands-on treatment may form part of a broader management plan.

Depending on the individual’s presentation, treatment may include:

Soft tissue therapy
Myofascial techniques
Joint mobilisation
Articulation techniques
Stretching approaches
Manual therapy aimed at supporting comfortable movement

Treatment is adapted to the person’s symptoms, goals and clinical presentation.

Movement Assessment

The hip does not work in isolation.

Osteopaths assess how the hip functions within the wider body, which may include:

Hip mobility
Pelvic movement
Lower back function
Knee mechanics
Foot and ankle mobility
Walking patterns
Running mechanics
Strength and control
Functional movement patterns

Understanding how these systems work together can help identify factors contributing to symptoms.

Exercise Rehabilitation

For many hip conditions, rehabilitation is a key part of recovery.

Rehabilitation may focus on:

Strength development
Mobility
Balance and control
Load tolerance
Functional movement
Running capacity
Return to exercise
Return to sport

Exercise recommendations are individualised and tailored to each person’s goals and stage of recovery.

Education and Self-Management

Helping people understand their symptoms is often an important component of care.

This may include guidance around:

Activity modification
Training loads
Recovery strategies
Exercise progression
Workplace demands
Return-to-sport planning
Managing flare-ups

Education helps people feel more confident in their recovery and supports long-term self-management.

A Whole-Body Approach to Hip Pain

One of the key principles of osteopathy is recognising that the body functions as an interconnected system.

While symptoms may be felt around the hip, contributing factors may also involve:

The lower back
The pelvis
The knees
The feet and ankles
Strength and conditioning levels
Physical activity habits
Occupational demands
Recovery capacity

For example, reduced ankle mobility may influence walking mechanics. Lower back stiffness may affect hip movement. Changes in strength or training load may influence how tissues tolerate activity.

Osteopathy considers these broader influences when developing an individualised management plan.

Hip Pain and Running

Running places repeated demands on the hips, pelvis and lower limbs.

Common running-related presentations may include:

Lateral hip pain
Tendon-related pain
Groin discomfort
Deep hip joint pain
Running-related overload injuries

Assessment often considers:

Running volume
Training progression
Recovery habits
Hip strength
Mobility
Movement patterns

Hip Pain and Strength Training

Many active people experience hip discomfort during:

Squats
Deadlifts
Lunges
Running
Jumping
Change-of-direction sports

This does not necessarily mean exercise should stop.

Management may involve:

Temporary load modification
Rehabilitation exercises
Technique considerations
Strength progression
Recovery planning

The goal is often to help people continue moving while supporting recovery.

Hip Pain and Lower Back Pain

The hip and lower back work closely together during everyday movement.

In some cases, symptoms felt around the hip may be influenced by structures in the lower back. Likewise, hip stiffness or weakness may influence how the lower back functions.

Assessment helps determine whether these relationships may be contributing to symptoms.

Hip Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings significant changes to the body that may influence the hips, pelvis and surrounding muscles.

Some people experience:

Hip discomfort during walking
Sleeping discomfort
Pelvic pain
Reduced mobility

Osteopathic care may include movement advice, hands-on treatment where appropriate and practical strategies to support comfortable movement throughout pregnancy.

Hip Pain and Arthritis

Hip arthritis is a common condition, particularly as people age.

While osteopathy does not treat arthritis itself, management may focus on supporting:

Mobility
Strength
Function
Physical activity participation
Confidence in movement

Many people find that maintaining movement and strength remains an important part of managing symptoms.

What Does the Research Say?

Current evidence suggests that many people experiencing hip pain may benefit from a combination of:

Appropriate physical activity
Progressive rehabilitation
Strength development
Education and reassurance
Load management
Manual therapy in selected situations
Self-management strategies

Modern osteopathic care commonly integrates these evidence-informed principles into individualised management plans.

No single treatment approach is appropriate for every presentation, and management should always be tailored to the individual.

What to Expect During an Osteopathy Appointment for Hip Pain

Your consultation may include:

Discussion of symptoms, lifestyle and goals
Assessment of hip movement and function
Evaluation of the lower back, pelvis and lower limbs
Identification of contributing factors
Hands-on treatment where appropriate
Rehabilitation planning
Guidance around activity and recovery

At Integrated Sports and Spinal Clinic, our aim is to help people better understand their symptoms and feel supported throughout their recovery journey.

When Should You Seek Assessment for Hip Pain?

Assessment may be appropriate if:

Symptoms are affecting walking
Pain is limiting exercise or sport
Sleeping has become uncomfortable
Symptoms are persistent or recurring
Mobility feels restricted
You are unsure how to manage symptoms safely

If symptoms are severe, unusual or associated with significant trauma, referral for further medical assessment may be recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is osteopathy good for hip pain?

Osteopathy may help support people experiencing hip pain through movement assessment, rehabilitation, education and management of contributing factors.

Can an osteopath help hip pain from running?

Osteopaths commonly work with runners experiencing hip pain and may assess training loads, movement patterns, strength and recovery factors.

Can lower back problems cause hip pain?

In some cases, symptoms felt around the hip may be influenced by structures in the lower back. Assessment helps determine whether this relationship may be relevant.

Should I stop exercising if my hip hurts?

Not necessarily. Many people benefit from modified activity and progressive rehabilitation rather than complete rest. Recommendations should always be individualised.

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