Hip Pain When Walking? Here’s What It Could Be

Hip pain when walking can significantly impact daily life, leaving you uncomfortable and distressed. We take a look at potential causes and remedies for this painful, but common, condition.

The hips are an essential component of your body’s ability to move. Restrictions and pain during movement can make daily activities a struggle. There are various possible causes of pain in the hip, ranging from musculoskeletal injuries to underlying conditions.

How does the hip joint work?

The hip is among the largest joints in the body. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, where the femur (thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum (a cup-like joint in the pelvis). The ball-and-socket joint allows for a full range of motion.

The joint surfaces are wrapped in a friction-limiting liner called articular cartilage. When this cartilage is healthy, it allows for smooth, pain-free motion. However, cartilage can wear over time, causing friction and pain.

Walking involves rotation in this joint, as the legs are extended forward, with the body following as part of a stepping motion. Pain or discomfort in the hip joint can make this movement difficult or unpleasant.

So, what causes hip pain when walking? Let’s look at some potential causes and solutions for alleviating pain in the hip.

Potential causes of hip pain when walking

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as arthritis, is a condition common among older adults that causes inflammation and pain in the hip when walking. Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that wears away the protective cartilage over time, leading to bone-on-bone contact. The condition can affect joints throughout the body and causes pain when moving.

Labral Tear

A labral tear can be caused by an injury, trauma, or dislocation in the hip joint. The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the acetabulum (the cup-like joint of the pelvis). The cartilage can become torn, which may cause pain, restriction of movement, or a locking feeling when you move.

Hip Flexor Strain

A strain in the muscles of the hip called the hip flexors, can lead to tenderness, discomfort, or swelling around the hip joint. This common condition can be caused by overuse, overstretching, or as the result of sporting injuries.

Likewise, weak muscles around the hip can place added strain on other areas of the body. Sitting for long periods, like at a desk, can cause muscles to shorten and weaken over time.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendons is known as tendonitis. This is a common condition usually caused by overuse of the muscles around the hip. Sporting activities, poor posture, and repetitive movements can place strain on a muscle's tendons, creating tiny tears that result in hip pain when walking and moving.

Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and reduce friction between bones and the surrounding tissue. Bursitis is a condition in which these sacs become inflamed and irritated. Hip-related bursitis can appear as pain and tenderness on the outer sides of the hip and is exacerbated by movement.

Gait

Your gait, or how you walk, can cause issues throughout your body. Your stride favors either supination or pronation, walking on the inside or outside of the foot. How you walk can place added stress on your hips, calves, and feet.

An experienced orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist can study your gait and make suggestions about how to improve your walking stride.

Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis, also known as avascular necrosis, is a severe, yet rare, condition in which the bone begins to die. The disorder is triggered by a long-term disruption in blood flow to the bone. Osteonecrosis is a serious condition that usually requires surgical intervention to treat and can be severely debilitating.

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

This condition involves abnormal contact between the ball-and-cup joints of the femur and acetabulum. Misshapen bones, growths, and genetic abnormalities can result in friction in the hip when walking or moving. FAI can lead to other conditions, like arthritis, and often requires surgical treatment to remedy the abnormalities in the bone.

Gynecological and back issues

Sometimes pain in the hip is caused by an issue elsewhere in the body. Some women may find that pain from gynecological issues, like endometriosis or ovarian cysts, can radiate into pain in the hip. Likewise, lower back pain or conditions like sciatica can present as pain in the legs.

Proper diagnosis by a sports physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon can help identify the underlying cause of pain in the hip joint or elsewhere in the body.

Treatments for pain in the hip when walking

As we’ve seen, there can be a wide variety of culprits when it comes to the cause of pain in the hip joint. An experienced orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist can help determine the cause of the pain and suggest a treatment plan to return you to a pain-free life.

Some potential treatments include:

Physical therapy

Enlisting the help of an experienced professional can be a great step towards recovery. Physical therapy can help strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce stress on painful joints.

Corticosteroid injections

Some treatment options may require corticosteroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation in the short term. Temporary pain reduction can give you the window you need to start physical therapy treatment to improve muscle strength and stability.

Your therapist or surgeon might also recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, like ibuprofen.

Surgery

Some more severe conditions might require surgical treatment to alleviate pain and discomfort. Some disorders, like bone growths, will require a skilled surgeon to remove the pain-causing element and help get you on the path to recovery.

Rest & Ice

Many conditions that cause hip pain when walking and moving can be alleviated through rest and ice packs. Though you may need other treatments alongside these, resting can help reduce inflammation and allow your body to heal.

Step towards recovery

Hip pain can be caused by a variety of issues and conditions. Our hips are among the largest joints in our body, so it can be debilitating when they’re not working correctly. If you’re suffering from pain in the hips when moving, come in and discuss your options with one of our experienced physical therapists.

We can help you diagnose your hip pain and suggest a treatment plan to get you back to your best. Contact All Sports Physical Therapy today for an appointment.