Hip and Groin Pain Treatment in Canary Wharf
Pain in the groin, the outside of the hip or deep in the buttock, from gluteal tendon problems to hip impingement and early joint changes. Where the pain is felt narrows the cause considerably.
Overview
Understanding hip and groin pain
Hip pain covers several distinct problems, and the location of the pain is the most useful starting point. Pain in the groin or deep at the front usually points to the hip joint itself. Pain on the outside, over the bony point, is most often a gluteal tendon problem. Pain in the buttock can come from the hip, the lower back or the tendons around the sitting bone.
Gluteal tendinopathy, pain over the outside of the hip, is the most common presentation in adults. It is typically sore to lie on at night, painful on standing on one leg, and provoked by walking up hills or stairs. Like other tendon problems it responds to progressive loading, and it is frequently made worse by the stretching people instinctively try.
Hip impingement describes a bony shape that limits how far the hip can flex and rotate before the joint edges meet, producing groin pain in deep positions such as a squat. Early joint changes are common with age, are often visible on scans in people with no pain at all, and generally respond well to strengthening.
Assessment establishes which structure is involved, checks the lower back as a referral source, and tests hip strength, which is almost always reduced. Care runs through physiotherapy, and through return-to-sport rehabilitation where the goal is a return to running or a change-of-direction sport.
Physiotherapy for hip and groin pain can help you to:
Narrow down which structure is involved
Groin, outer hip and buttock pain point to different problems with different treatments. Where the pain sits, plus a handful of loading tests, usually settles it in the first appointment.
Lie on that side again at night
Night pain is the symptom most people want gone first with a gluteal tendon problem. Reducing compression through positioning, while loading the tendon, tends to improve it early.
Understand why stretching made it worse
Stretching compresses an irritated gluteal tendon against the bone. It is the intuitive response and a common reason these problems persist for months, so knowing this changes what you do daily.
Build hip and gluteal strength
Hip strength is almost always reduced on the affected side. Rebuilding it is the part that changes the outcome across gluteal tendon problems, impingement and early joint changes alike.
Get back to running and stairs without it flaring
Hills, stairs and single-leg loading are the usual provocations. We reintroduce them in graded steps once there is enough strength to take them.
Why it happens
What causes hip and groin pain?
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Reduced strength in the gluteal muscles, so the tendons take load the muscle should share
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A rapid increase in running volume, hill work or single-leg loading in the gym
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Long periods sitting with the legs crossed or the hip in a compressed position
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A bony hip shape that limits deep flexion and rotation, provoking groin pain in squats
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Age-related joint changes, which are common and often symptom-free
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Pain referred from the lower back or the sacroiliac region into the buttock and hip
Treatment approach
How do we treat hip and groin pain?
Physiotherapy
On enquiryEstablishes which structure is producing the pain, checks the lower back as a referral source, and builds the progressive hip and gluteal strengthening programme that is first-line treatment across most hip presentations. Also covers the positions and habits that keep a gluteal tendon irritated.
See treatment detail →Return-to-Sport Rehabilitation
On enquiryFor a return to running, football or a change-of-direction sport, progresses single-leg loading, impact and rotation with strength compared against the other side before full training resumes.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage
On enquiryAdjunctive soft-tissue work around the hip and thigh during a loading block. It can make the strengthening more comfortable to perform, and direct pressure over an irritated gluteal tendon is usually best avoided.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Why does my hip hurt when I lie on it at night?
Lying on the side compresses the gluteal tendons against the bony point of the hip, which is the classic pattern for gluteal tendinopathy. Sleeping with a pillow between the knees and avoiding the most compressed positions usually helps while the tendon is being loaded back up.
Should I stretch a painful hip?
Often not. Stretching a gluteal tendon problem compresses the tendon further against the bone, which is why it commonly feels worse afterwards despite seeming like the sensible thing to do. Progressive strengthening is the approach that changes the outcome for most hip presentations.
Does hip arthritis on a scan mean I need a replacement?
No. Joint changes are extremely common with age and are frequently found in people with no pain at all, so the scan alone does not decide anything. Strengthening and load management improve pain and function for most people. Surgery is a decision made on symptoms and function.
What is hip impingement?
A bony shape at the hip where the head of the femur and the socket meet earlier than usual in deep flexion and rotation, producing groin pain in positions like a deep squat. Many people have the shape without symptoms. Treatment focuses on strength and adjusting provocative positions.
Could my hip pain be coming from my back?
It can, particularly where the pain sits in the buttock rather than the groin. The lower back refers symptoms into the hip region readily, which is why the assessment covers both. Getting this right early avoids a long course of treatment aimed at the wrong structure.
How long does hip and groin pain take to settle?
A recent, straightforward irritation often settles in a few weeks. A gluteal tendon problem or a long-standing groin issue is usually a three to six month programme, because tendon capacity is what has to change and it does not change quickly. Canary Wharf Physio gives you a range at the assessment rather than a session count.
Get Started
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Book today.
Canary Wharf Physio • Unit 7, 30 South Colonnade, London E14 5HX
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks