- The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that allows free movement in all directions.
- The hip plays a key role in the connection between the pelvis and the lower limbs.
- Hip pain is most commonly associated with various functional disorders in the joint, muscles, and/or connective tissue.
Functional anatomy of the hip joint
In the hip joint, the head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, which allows for free movement. Compared to the other ball-and-socket joint in the body, the shoulder joint, the hip joint has to bear much more stress in upright positions and in most everyday movements. As a result, the hip joint has a smaller range of motion and the connective tissues and muscles surrounding it are significantly stronger than those of the shoulder. Due to these structural factors, pain in the hip joint is most commonly caused by age-related changes in the joint and surrounding soft tissues.
Symptoms related to hip pain
- Classically, pain originating in the hip joint is felt as localised deep within the pelvis and/or as referred pain in the front of the pelvis during exertion.
- The connective tissues and muscles surrounding the hip joint can cause a wide variety of symptoms in the lower back, groin, and various parts of the pelvis.
- Hip pain is usually aching in nature and more intense and sharp during exercise.
- Various daily activities, such as walking with long strides, tying shoelaces, getting started, getting out of the car and out of bed, and/or climbing stairs, can become difficult and cause pain.
Causes of prolonged hip symptoms
Prolonged symptoms are usually caused by a combination of several factors rather than just one of the factors listed below.
- Physiological stress due to previous injuries, premature wear, or functional disorders, especially in the lower back, hip flexor muscles, knee, ankle, and foot areas on the same side.
- Congenital predisposition to early age-related wear and tear in the joints.
- Structural abnormalities in the hip, knee, ankle, or foot.
- Insufficient or excessive physical strain.
- Psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, and/or excessive mental strain.
- Lifestyle factors, such as overly repetitive and insufficient exercise, inadequate or poor-quality sleep, obesity.
- Central sensitization of the central pain nervous system.
Treatment and rehabilitation of hip pain
Treatment and rehabilitation are tailored to the individual. Treatment usually includes manual therapy, individual exercises, acupuncture, and lifestyle advice. Hip pain itself is usually felt deep inside the side of the pelvis, but because the joint functions as a ball-and-socket joint in all directions of movement, the problems at the muscle and connective tissue level are individual and located at the front, side, and back of the pelvis.
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Viimeksi päivitetty 13.10.2025
