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🦴Hip Conditions — Osteoarthritis and Tendinopathy

Hip · The hip is a deep, stable ball-and-socket joint that bears several times body weight during walking and running, making it a common site of both overuse pain and degenerative change.

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Quick answers

What causes hip pain in older adults?

Osteoarthritis is among the most common causes of hip pain after middle age, involving gradual breakdown of the joint's cartilage and associated changes in the surrounding bone and soft tissue.

What is greater trochanteric pain syndrome?

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome describes pain at the outer hip related to irritation of the gluteal tendons or the nearby bursa, often mistaken in the past for bursitis alone.

What is femoroacetabular impingement?

Femoroacetabular impingement describes abnormal contact between the femoral head and the hip socket during certain movements, related to subtle variations in bone shape, which can contribute to groin pain and reduced range of motion in some individuals.

Does hip osteoarthritis always require surgery?

Many cases of hip osteoarthritis are managed for years with exercise, weight management, and activity modification; joint replacement is typically considered when conservative measures no longer provide adequate relief.

Can weak glute muscles cause hip pain?

Reduced strength or endurance in the gluteal muscles is commonly associated with several hip and even knee conditions, since these muscles are central to controlling pelvis and leg alignment during walking and running.

What is a hip labral tear?

A hip labral tear is damage to the ring of cartilage that deepens the hip socket, which can occur from trauma, repetitive impingement, or gradual wear, and may contribute to pain, clicking, or a sense of instability.

Start with this section - Common problems

Hip conditions span degenerative joint disease, tendon overuse at the outer and front of the hip, labral injury, and muscle strain, with the relevant condition often varying by age and activity level.

Osteoarthritis becomes progressively more common with age, while tendon and labral conditions are seen across a wider age range, particularly among physically active individuals.

Relative clinical burden

Hip osteoarthritis
60
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
45
Femoroacetabular impingement
30
Hip labral tear
25
Iliopsoas-related groin pain
20
Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
25

Common problems

Moderate–severe

Hip osteoarthritis

Gradual degeneration of the joint's cartilage, most common in older adults, producing groin pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion that typically worsens over months to years.

Mild–moderate

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Pain at the outer hip related to irritation of the gluteal tendons or nearby bursa, often aggravated by lying on the affected side or climbing stairs.

Mild–moderate

Femoroacetabular impingement

Abnormal contact between the femoral head and socket during certain movements, related to bone shape variation, sometimes contributing to groin pain in younger, active individuals.

Moderate

Hip labral tear

Damage to the cartilage ring deepening the hip socket, which can produce deep groin pain, clicking, or a sense of catching, particularly with pivoting movements.

Mild–moderate

Iliopsoas-related groin pain

Irritation of the hip flexor tendon at the front of the hip, common in sports involving repetitive kicking or sprinting.

Mild–moderate

Proximal hamstring tendinopathy

Overuse-related irritation of the hamstring tendon where it attaches near the base of the pelvis, producing deep buttock pain often aggravated by sitting or running.

Because hip and groin pain can arise from the joint, tendons, or referred sources such as the lower back, a structured assessment is important to direct treatment toward the actual source of symptoms.

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