Hip and groin pain is among the most frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated presentations in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The region is anatomically complex, with the hip joint itself, the surrounding musculature, the lumbar spine, the sacroiliac joint, and the abdominal structures all capable of generating symptoms that overlap in location and character. Accurately identifying the true source of your pain is the essential first step, and it is not always straightforward.
At The Physio Joint in Mayfield, we take a methodical, evidence-based approach to hip and groin pain that begins with a detailed assessment of the entire lumbopelvic region. We do not simply treat where it hurts. We identify which structures are involved, why they have become symptomatic, and how your movement patterns and loading habits are contributing to the problem. That understanding drives a treatment plan that addresses the root cause rather than managing symptoms in isolation.
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint designed for both mobility and load-bearing stability. It is the junction between the lower limb and the trunk, and as such it plays a critical role in almost every movement the body performs. When the hip is compromised, whether through joint degeneration, labral pathology, muscular dysfunction, or nerve involvement, it affects not just the hip itself but the entire chain of structures above and below it.
Groin pain is particularly complex because the region is supplied by multiple overlapping nerve pathways and contains structures from several body systems. Adductor muscle pathology, hip flexor strain, inguinal-related groin pain, and hip joint pathology can all produce symptoms in a similar location. Athletic groin pain, sometimes referred to as osteitis pubis, involves the pubic symphysis and surrounding structures and is a recognised challenge to manage without a precise, structured approach.
Referred pain from the lumbar spine is also a significant source of apparent hip and groin symptoms. L2 and L3 nerve root irritation commonly produces anterior thigh and groin pain that mimics local hip pathology. Our assessment process examines the lumbar spine alongside the hip and pelvis to ensure that referred components are identified and treated.
Hip and groin conditions require a level of assessment depth and clinical reasoning that goes beyond the capacity of a standard physiotherapy consult. Our team’s approach to complex, multi-region presentations reflects the postgraduate training and clinical experience that underpins everything we do at The Physio Joint. We are well connected to Newcastle’s orthopaedic community for patients who require imaging, specialist review, or surgical assessment for conditions such as significant labral tears or advanced hip osteoarthritis.
Hip osteoarthritis is the most prevalent hip condition in adults over fifty, but in active adults and younger populations, gluteal tendinopathy and femoro-acetabular impingement are the most frequent diagnoses. The correct answer for any individual depends entirely on a thorough clinical assessment.
In many cases, yes. Exercise-based physiotherapy is a first-line treatment for hip osteoarthritis and can provide meaningful pain relief and functional improvement that reduces or delays the need for surgical intervention. The earlier physiotherapy is commenced, the better the outcomes tend to be.
Not always. Groin pain can arise from the hip joint itself, the pubic symphysis, abdominal structures, the lumbar nerve roots, or the adductor muscles and tendons. The precise source must be identified before treatment can be effectively directed, which is why our assessment is so comprehensive.
Lateral hip tendinopathy, or greater trochanteric pain syndrome, involves irritation of the gluteal tendons where they attach to the bony prominence on the outer hip. It is particularly common in middle-aged women and runners. It is provoked by compressive loading positions such as crossing the legs, lying on the affected side, and walking uphill. Treatment involves a structured tendon loading programme, avoidance of provocative compression positions, and hip strengthening, and it is highly responsive to correctly applied physiotherapy.
Imaging is not always necessary to begin treatment. Where a labral tear, stress fracture, or advanced osteoarthritis is suspected clinically, we will advise you to obtain appropriate imaging and can liaise with your GP to facilitate referral.
Hip and groin pain that is limiting your movement, your exercise capacity, or your daily comfort deserves a thorough and expert assessment. Book with The Physio Joint and let us identify exactly what is driving your symptoms.
