The Top 4 Causes of Hip Joint Pain and the Sneaky Spot You May Notice Symptoms

Struggling with hip joint pain can make every step feel like a challenge. To find real relief and get back to enjoying your days, it’s helpful to understand hip joint pain causes. Most commonly, hip joint pain stems from the joint itself or the surrounding soft tissues, explains Dena Barsoum, MD , of the New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery .

The hip joint, a ball-and-socket structure cushioned by cartilage, is one of the body's largest weight-bearing joints. It’s key to your mobility. But when it’s strained, even the simplest movements can become painfully tough.

Women face this issue more frequently.  “The shape of a woman's pelvis is different than a man's,” notes Dr. Barsoum. “And for women that have gone through childbirth, there's a different strain that happens on the hip joint.”

Additionally, research in Neural Plasticity suggests hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause can affect joint, muscle, and bone health, leading to increased susceptibility to hip pain, Dr. Barsoum adds. Understanding hip joint pain causes involves recognizing where the pain originates — and it's the first step towards recovery.

The top 4 hip joint pain causes

1. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), or “wear-and-tear” arthritis , is the most common form of joint disorder, according to research in The Permanente Journal , affecting more than 27 million people in the United States. It occurs when the cartilage cushioning the hip joint breaks down, explains Dr. Barsoum. “The typical presenting symptom of hip osteoarthritis is pain in the groin, which most people don’t realize,” she notes.

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This pain is exacerbated by activities requiring hip motion like putting on socks, getting in and out of the car or even walking. A limp and limited hip range of motion are telltale signs, with pain sometimes radiating down the front of the thigh to the knee.

2. Tendonitis

Tendonitis is the inflammation of tendons, the connective tissues that attach muscles to bones. The pain is typically felt on the side of the hip and worsens with walking or doing activities involving movement. It can also cause pain that radiates down the side of the thigh.

Dr. Barsoum says your doctor can diagnose tendonitis through physical examination and sometimes imaging tests to rule out other conditions. It is typically caused by weakness of the hip abductor tendons or the gluteal muscles and tendons, she adds. The gradual onset of pain is the most common symptom. People with iliopsoas tendinitis, a specific type of hip tendonitis, often feel pain in the front of their hip, Dr. Barsoum notes.

3. Bursitis

Bursitis involves swelling of the bursae, small sacs of fluid that cushion your tendons, ligaments and muscles. When they're not inflamed, bursae help these structures glide smoothly over bone. But when the bursae swell up, the area around them becomes very tender and painful. Trochanteric bursitis is swelling affecting the bursae of the hip.

Unlike arthritis, bursitis pain doesn’t limit hip motion. But your hip may feel tender and pain can worsen with specific movements. “Bursitis causes more intense pain, and it hurts to the touch,” explains Dr. Barsoum. “Patients often say they have a lot of pain if they try to lay on their side when they’re sleeping.”

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4. Labral tears

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that cushions your hip joint. It helps hold the ball at the top of your thigh bone securely within your hip socket. A variety of activities can lead to a hip labral tear, such as a hard impact, fall, repetitive sports motions or simply aging.

“Labral tears are very common as we get older,” says Dr. Barsoum. “The labrum can be injured or degenerate over time, leading to tears that cause the pain.” The typical indicator is a deep ache or sharp pain in the groin area. This may worsen with activities that involve hip motion, such as putting on socks, getting in and out of a car or prolonged sitting. A labral tear may also cause stiffness, a locking or catching sensation in the hip and a feeling of instability.

Hip joint pain causes: When to see a doctor

Home remedies like hip-strengthening exercises and over-the-counter painkillers offer relief from various causes of hip joint pain. But if your pain continues despite such efforts, you should visit your doctor.

“A doctor will ask about where you feel the pain, what makes it better and what makes it worse,” Dr. Barsoum says. “We'll do physical exam maneuvers to try to isolate the source of pain.”

Physical therapy is often the first line of defense. If conservative treatments aren’t working, corticosteroid injections might be a pain-relief option, but they won’t fix the problem, says Dr. Barsoum. “When arthritis becomes more severe, and if we're not able to control the symptoms with conservative treatment, that's when we might think about hip replacement surgery,” she adds.

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan .