Hip Pain
Why does my hip hurt when I walk, sit, or sleep on my side?
What happens at my first visit?
We can set up a seat and look at the moment your hip pinches, then compare what you feel if we change the height or how you bring your leg in.
During treatment, we’ll check the movement again and use what changes to decide what to try next. [11]
Free 30- to 45-minute hands-on evaluation in Clovis. Choose whether to continue. One-on-one treatment is $200 per hour.
Near Willow and Nees in North Clovis · Open in Google Maps
Is it a pinch in front or an ache on the outside?
Pain in the groin can come from the hip joint. Pain on the outside can involve the tendons that help steady your pelvis when you stand on one leg. Pain in the buttock can also come from your back. Where you point helps me decide what to check first. Then I want to see what happens when you move. [1, 2, 3]
Which part of getting into the car hurts?
Does it start when you lower into the seat or when you swing your leg in? I might look at how your hip turns, how you shift weight, and what your back does during the move. If we change your starting position or try hands-on work, we’ll do the same move again. [4]
Can you climb the stairs and sleep on that side?
For pain on the outside of the hip, we might work on stairs or standing while we build strength, and check what happens when you lie on that side. In one trial for pain involving the tendons on the outside of the hip, education and exercise led to better overall improvement than a steroid injection at one year. I’d ask which change you’re noticing at home. [5]
Frequently asked questions
Why does my hip pinch in a low chair but feel fine sitting on a taller stool?
Show me where you feel it and how far into the sit it starts. We can compare seat heights while keeping the rest of the task familiar. That gives us something to weigh alongside the rest of the exam.
Stairs felt easier today. What about sleeping on that side tonight?
I’d track those separately. See whether the first few stairs feel different and whether you wake or change sides as often as usual. Improvement in one gives us something to build on while we keep asking about the other.
Why is getting into the car harder than walking once I’m out?
Show me the part that hurts. Is it lifting the leg, turning, or lowering into the seat? We can work on the part you recognize and see whether the next car ride feels any different.
What if I can walk farther but still need the rail on the stairs?
That’s a difference worth bringing back. Tell me what the rail helps you with on the stairs. We can use the walk to track one gain and a supported step to understand what still needs attention.
What if my X-ray already shows arthritis?
Exercise can help some people with hip arthritis. A trial of one physical therapy program found no advantage over a sham program, so we check what actually changes for you as you try walking, stairs, or getting out of a seat. [6, 7]
Does a labral tear or hip impingement on a scan explain the pain?
The labrum is a rim of cartilage around the hip socket. Changes on scans can appear in people without symptoms. For hip impingement, the diagnosis considers your symptoms, exam, and imaging together. [8, 9]
Do I need imaging?
Imaging can help when the exam points to a problem that may change your care. If you fall and can’t put weight on that leg, go to the emergency department. [10]
Should I stretch a hip that feels pinched?
If a stretch repeatedly produces the pinch, bring that movement to the evaluation. We can check whether a different range or position feels better and decide whether stretching is worth keeping.
What should I track between visits?
Pick an activity you can compare from week to week, like how far you can walk before limping or whether the stairs are easier the next morning.