Hip Pain When Walking: Common Causes and Best Treatment Options
Learn about the causes of hip pain when walking and discover effective treatment options. Find relief with exercises from physical therapists.
Table of Contents
All of your joints play an important role in your everyday functioning, and your hips — among the largest joints in the body — are no exception. So if you’re experiencing hip pain when walking, it’s not surprising if it interferes with all of your everyday activities. Hip pain when walking can also trigger pain in other areas. “If your hips aren’t fully stable, you may use your low back for support or put more force on one leg, which can contribute to back or knee pain,” says Cody Anderson, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at Hinge Health.
While hip pain when walking is common, it’s not something you have to simply accept, especially if it limits your ability to do your daily activities. Read on to learn how you can prevent hip pain when walking, especially with exercises recommended by Hinge Health physical therapists.
Our Hinge Health Experts
Cody Anderson, PT, DPT
Dylan Peterson, PT, DPT
9 Common Causes of Hip Pain When Walking
Ever wonder why your hip hurts when you walk, but maybe not so much when you do other activities? There can be a lot of contributors, including:
Osteoarthritis (OA). Like other areas of your body, it’s normal for your hips to change with age. In the case of hip osteoarthritis, your cartilage — the shock-absorbing material in joints — changes and loses volume. While many people don’t notice this, it can certainly contribute to pain and stiffness for some people, especially during or after walking.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis can trigger inflammation of the capsule surrounding the hip joint, causing the release of substances that affect cartilage over time.
Tendonitis. This condition occurs when the thick bands of tissue known as tendons that connect your hip muscles to your bones become irritated.
Bursitis. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between bones and soft tissues. If either of the two major bursae in your hip becomes inflamed, you may notice tenderness, especially during certain activities like walking.
Impingement. This occurs when there’s extra bone in the hip joint that causes pinching or friction. This can make climbing stairs, bending over to tie your shoes, and even sitting or walking uncomfortable.
Hip labral tear. Your labrum is a cartilage-like tissue that runs around the rim of your hip joint. Its purpose is to keep the ball of your hip solidly in its socket. Sometimes, the way your hip joint is shaped or something like a trauma to your hip can contribute to a tear in that cartilage. As a result, your hip joint can glide less smoothly, and you may be more prone to hip pain when walking.
Hip flexor strain. The hip flexors are a group of four muscles along the front of your upper thigh, and they are responsible for helping you walk, bend over, and stand. They’re some of the strongest muscles in the body and also some of the most used, which can set them up for occasional injury. A hip flexor strain happens when you stretch or tear some of the fibers in your hip flexor muscles.
Sciatica. Sciatica occurs when your sciatic nerve becomes pinched, irritated, or inflamed. You can get symptoms of sciatica, including pain, weakness, numbness, or a pins and needles sensation, anywhere along the neural pathway — from your lower back through your hips, buttocks, or down your legs. Hip pain related to sciatica can occur in the anterior (front) hip, lateral (side) hip, or posterior hip (aka the buttock).
Pregnancy. Anywhere from a third to half of all pregnant women experience hip pain during pregnancy, and it usually hits around the second or third trimester. This is often the result of hormonal changes or sciatica.
When It Comes to Hip Pain, Movement Is Medicine
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- Clamshells
- Lunges
- External Hip Rotation
- Mini Squat
Physical therapy (PT) is for more than just recovering from surgery or injury. It’s one of the top treatments for joint and muscle pain. It helps build strength, improve mobility, and reduce pain. And it doesn't always need to be in person.
Hinge Health members can conveniently access customized plans or chat with their care team at home or on the go — and experience an average 68% reduction in pain* within the first 12 weeks of their program. Learn more*.
One of the most effective ways to manage hip pain when walking is with exercise therapy. Exercises that strengthen the muscles surrounding your hips (such as your glutes and quads) and your hips themselves can help prevent and manage pain. “Exercise can help strengthen the muscles that help you maintain a good walking position,” says Dr. Anderson. The exercises above, recommended by Hinge Health physical therapists, are a great place to start. Try incorporating these stretches into your day, either before or after walking.
The information contained in these videos is intended to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or treatment for any specific condition. Hinge Health is not your healthcare provider and is not responsible for any injury sustained or exacerbated by your use of or participation in these exercises. Please consult with your healthcare provider with any questions you may have about your medical condition or treatment.
How Can I Treat Hip Pain When Walking?
Just as there are a lot of potential contributors to hip pain when walking, there are many different techniques you can try to minimize and prevent pain, such as:
Physical therapy. A lot of times, hip pain when walking is influenced by muscle imbalances. A physical therapist (PT) can work with you to find the right combination of stretching and strengthening exercises, like the ones above, that target the structures in and around your hips to make your joints more resilient to walking motions. You can see a physical therapist in person or use a program like Hinge Health to access a PT via telehealth/video visit.
Activity modifications. Generally speaking, your body likes variety. And although movement is incredibly good for all aspects of your health, including your joint health, incorporating variety into your walking routine can be helpful for hip pain. Try changing the pace or duration of your walks for a while to see if it gives your hips some relief. You could also consider doing other aerobic activities for your exercise temporarily, such as biking or swimming. Assuming you carry on with your day-to-day routine (which you should!) you’ll still be challenging your hip muscles with light, sporadic walking.
Hot or cold therapy. Both ice and heat can be useful in managing hip pain when walking, says Dr. Anderson. Ice is usually used for new injuries, whereas people usually address tension with heat. That said, Dr. Anderson recommends using whatever feels good to you. “If you have a preference, it may work better because you’re more likely to relax into it,” he says.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be helpful for hip pain when walking. It’s important to make sure that you are safely able to take these medications, based on your medical history.
Pain-relief creams. Creams and gels applied to the hip area may help reduce pain temporarily. Some work by numbing your muscles, which can dull the pain sensation. Others work by reducing inflammation in the affected area.
Massage therapy. Therapeutic massage can increase blood flow to the muscles around your hips, which may help tackle inflammation and pain in the area. Just remember that it’s important to also incorporate techniques like movement and stretching.
Shoe adjustments. Different types of shoes work for different people, but if your shoes are worn out or don’t provide a good level of support for you, they may contribute to your hip pain when walking. “If your shoes are worn out, your feet may not have appropriate support, and that can affect how your hips are moving,” says Dr. Anderson. A physical therapist can help you assess whether it might be time to shop for new shoes.
Terrain changes. If you find yourself walking on the same surface, such as hard concrete, exploring different terrains may offer your hips some relief when walking. Some surfaces, such as uneven ones, cause your hips to work harder when you step up or down and could lead to more discomfort. You could try walking on grass, an outdoor track, or a treadmill and see if you notice a difference. If you do, it’s a good reminder to be mindful of mixing up your walking route when possible.
How to Prevent Hip Pain When Walking
Some people experience hip pain flares sporadically that affect their ability to walk comfortably. The following steps can help you prevent the pain from occuring in the first place so you can keep moving with your daily life.
Strengthen your core and lower body. Strengthening the areas above and below your hips can help you maintain control when walking and prevent pain from setting in. Your core (above your hips) helps stabilize and control your pelvic movements. “If your core isn’t strong enough, it’s harder to control the pelvis from above,” says Dr. Anderson. “Your hips drop and have to do more work to keep your pelvis level, which can contribute to pain.”
Adjust your stride. There’s no right or wrong way to walk, but how you step may influence your hip pain. As an experiment, try to keep your feet pointed forward and your pelvis level when you walk. If your pain flares stay at bay, it may be a sign that your walking technique makes a difference in your hip pain.
Stretch regularly. “With tight muscles, we don’t move as well,” says Dr. Anderson. Stretching your hip flexor and glute muscles can encourage longer strides, which can help prevent pain. You can stretch at any time, but to avoid issues like hip flexor pain, make sure to add stretches as part of your pre-workout warmup.
Wear supportive footwear. Choose shoes that provide good arch support and cushioning to help keep your hips comfortable as you move.
When to See a Physical Therapist
Hip pain when walking usually isn’t serious and often resolves on its own with exercise and home remedies. But there are a few scenarios in which Dr. Anderson recommends reaching out to a medical provider for help, including:
Your hip pain gets substantially worse in spite of stretching and strengthening exercises and interferes with your daily activities.
Your limbs start to feel numb.
You develop pain in your lower back and legs.
Another sign to check in with your physical therapist is sharp pain when you work on hip strengthening exercises. “Soreness is okay, especially when you start a new program. But sharp pain may be a signal that you should be moving differently,” says Dr. Anderson. A PT can help assess that and modify your exercise plan accordingly.
PT Tip: Ease Into It
If standing exercises and walking are unbearable, Dr. Anderson recommends starting with exercises on the ground (like clamshells and bridges) and working your way up. But expect a little bit of discomfort at first. “Just remember: Working through a little pain can be good because you learn not to avoid movement and help promote long-term healing,” he says.
How Hinge Health Can Help You
If you have joint or muscle pain that makes it hard to move, you can get the relief you’ve been looking for with Hinge Health’s online exercise therapy program.
The best part: You don’t have to leave your home because our program is digital. That means you can easily get the care you need through our app, when and where it works for you.
Through our program, you’ll have access to therapeutic exercises and stretches for your condition. Additionally, you’ll have a personal care team to guide, support, and tailor our program to you.
See if you qualify for Hinge Health and confirm free coverage through your employer or benefit plan here.
This article and its contents are provided for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or professional services specific to you or your medical condition.
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References
What to Know about Hip Pain When Walking. (2022, June 23). Hospital for Special Surgery. https://www.hss.edu/article_hip-pain-when-walking.asp
Hip Pain. (n.d.). Penn Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/hip-pain
Thomas, P. & Sheth, N. P. (2022, February.) Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip. OrthoInfo — American Academy of Orthopadeic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/inflammatory-arthritis-of-the-hip
Sen, R., & Hurley, J. A. (2019, February 10). Osteoarthritis. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482326/
Williams, C. H., & Sternard, B. T. (2019, February 14). Bursitis. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513340/
Tendinitis. (2017, March 16). Medicine Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/tendinitis.html
Glenister, R., & Sharma, S. (2020). Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Hip. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526019/
Mouchantaf, M. E., Freiha, K. F., Moussa, M. K., Asfour, A. H., Yahchouchi, C., & Moussallem, C. D. (2021). Hip avascular necrosis in a healthy pregnant woman: A case report and review of literature. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 85, 106197. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106197