Hip pain can make daily movement feel difficult. Walking, climbing stairs, standing, sitting, exercising, sleeping, or getting in and out of a car can all become uncomfortable when the hip is painful, stiff, weak, or sensitive.
Hip pain may start suddenly after a fall, sports injury, awkward movement, or increase in activity. It can also develop gradually over time due to joint stiffness, muscle weakness, tendon irritation, arthritis, reduced mobility, or changes in how the hip, pelvis, and lower back are moving together.
The hip is a strong weight-bearing joint that plays an important role in balance, walking, running, lifting, and lower-body movement. When the hip is not moving or loading well, it can affect nearby areas such as the lower back, pelvis, knee, or ankle.
At CORPEO, located in Gloucester Centre in Ottawa’s east end, our physiotherapy team takes a detailed approach to understanding what is contributing to your hip pain. The goal is to reduce discomfort, improve mobility, restore strength, and help you return to daily activities with more comfort and confidence.
Hip pain can develop for many reasons. It may be related to joint irritation, muscle strain, tendon overload, arthritis, movement habits, previous injury, or changes in strength and mobility.
Common contributors to hip pain include:
Arthritis in the hip can lead to stiffness, aching, reduced mobility, and discomfort with walking, stairs, or getting up from a chair. Symptoms may be more noticeable in the morning, after rest, or after longer periods of activity.
Tendons around the hip help support walking, running, stairs, and side-to-side movement. Irritation can develop from overuse, sudden increases in activity, weakness, or repeated strain. This may cause pain on the outside, front, or back of the hip.
The muscles around the hip, glutes, pelvis, and thigh help control movement and support the joint. A strain may happen after a sudden movement, sport activity, lifting, slipping, or overloading the area. Symptoms may include pain, tightness, weakness, or difficulty moving the leg.
Pain on the outside of the hip is sometimes linked to irritation of the soft tissues around the greater trochanter. This may be aggravated by lying on the affected side, walking, stairs, standing on one leg, or repeated loading.
Some people experience pinching, catching, stiffness, or deep hip pain with bending, squatting, twisting, or sitting. This may be related to how the ball-and-socket joint is moving or loading.
A fracture or bone injury usually requires medical assessment first. Physiotherapy may be part of recovery once appropriate, helping restore mobility, strength, balance, walking tolerance, and confidence with daily activity.
Hip pain can vary depending on the cause, severity, and stage of recovery.
Symptoms may include:
Physiotherapy can help identify what is contributing to your hip pain and guide you through a personalized recovery plan. Your physiotherapist will assess not only the hip itself, but also how your lower back, pelvis, knees, ankles, strength, mobility, posture, and movement patterns may be involved.
At CORPEO, your assessment may include a review of your symptoms, injury history, work demands, activity level, exercise routine, walking tolerance, sitting tolerance, and the movements that make your pain better or worse. Your physiotherapist may also assess range of motion, strength, joint mobility, balance, gait, flexibility, and functional movements such as squatting, stepping, or single-leg control.
Based on your assessment, your physiotherapy plan may include:
Gentle mobility exercises can help reduce stiffness, improve hip movement, and support more comfortable walking, sitting, and daily activity.
Targeted strengthening may focus on the hips, glutes, core, thighs, and lower body. Building strength can help support the hip joint, improve control, and reduce strain during activity.
Hands-on techniques may be used to improve joint mobility, reduce muscle tension, and support more comfortable movement through the hip, pelvis, or lower back.
If hip pain is affecting walking, balance, or confidence, your physiotherapist may include exercises to improve stability, coordination, and walking mechanics.
Your physiotherapist can help you adjust sitting positions, stair technique, exercise choices, training load, sleep positioning, and daily movement habits to reduce irritation.
As symptoms improve, your physiotherapist can guide you through a gradual return to walking, exercise, sport, lifting, or other activities that matter to you.
Your hip pain treatment plan is personalized to your symptoms, goals, and stage of recovery. Some people need help reducing pain and stiffness, while others need a progressive plan to improve strength, balance, mobility, and activity tolerance.
As your symptoms improve, your physiotherapist will progress your exercises and activity plan safely. The goal is to help you move more comfortably, build confidence, and return to daily life with better strength and control.
Book Your Assessment
Receive a Personalized Hip Pain Treatment Plan
Improve Mobility, Strength, Balance, and Control
Return to Daily Life with More Comfort and Confidence
Hip pain can interfere with work, exercise, sleep, and everyday movement, but physiotherapy can help you better understand your symptoms and take steps toward improved comfort and function. Contact CORPEO today to schedule a physiotherapy assessment at our Gloucester Centre clinic in Ottawa’s east end and learn how we can help with hip pain.
