Hip
Mobile Physical Therapy for Hip Pain in Scottsdale
We come to you in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.
Your hips support your body weight and power everyday movements like walking, squatting, and climbing stairs. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the top of your thigh bone (femur) fits into a socket in your pelvis (acetabulum), which is where its medical name, the femoroacetabular joint, comes from. When it isn't moving well, everyday activities and training can become painful.
Stability and Function
The hip carries the weight of your upper body every time you're on your feet. To handle that load, it has a deep socket that holds the ball of the femur securely in place. The shoulder's shallow socket trades that stability for more mobility. Around the hip, the labrum (a ring of cartilage that deepens the socket), strong ligaments, and surrounding muscles add even more support.
Mobility and Injury Risk
The hip's design lets it move in many directions: forward, backward, side to side, and in rotation. The knee works more like a hinge, bending and straightening in one main direction. That extra range is what lets you squat deep, pivot, and kick.
That freedom also places more stress on the joint, especially at end range or under heavy load. Over time, that stress can strain the labrum, joint capsule, and surrounding muscles, which is why hip injuries are common in sports like jiu-jitsu, soccer, and weightlifting.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Hip pain can come from a sudden injury, like a fall or car accident, or develop gradually from overuse and repetitive motion. Natural differences in how your bones formed as you grew can also play a role. In the femur, these differences usually show up in two ways:
Rotation
- Duck-footed (toes point out): The femur may be rotated backward, called retroversion.
- Pigeon-toed (toes point in): The femur may be rotated forward, called anteversion.
Angle
- Knock-kneed: Often linked to a smaller angle between the femoral neck and shaft (coxa vara).
- Bow-legged: Often linked to a larger angle (coxa valga).
These differences aren't problems on their own, but they can shift where stress lands in your hip. That affects how you move and where you feel pain.
In grappling, guard retention, playing open guard, and repeated takedown attempts can all load the hip and labrum.
Other causes of hip pain include:
Osteoarthritis- Groin, hip flexor, or hamstring strains
- Hip flexor or glute tendinitis
- Bursitis (trochanteric or ischial)
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Labral tears
- Snapping hip syndrome (internal or external)
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Avascular necrosis (AVN)
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD)
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
Common symptoms include:
- Aching or sharp pain in the hip, groin, or buttock
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Swelling
- Clicking or popping
- Limping or trouble putting weight on the affected leg
- Difficulty moving in bed, sitting down, or standing up
- Pain at night or when lying on your side
How Physical Therapy Helps You
Hip pain can hold you back at the gym, at work, and in everyday life. Your symptoms may come from the hip itself, be referred from a nearby muscle, or radiate from your lower back. Your physical therapist will evaluate you to find the true source of your pain, then build a plan to reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore strength. As a mobile practice, we come to you, whether that's your home, gym, or workplace.
Your plan may include hands-on treatment, strength training for your glutes and core, and mobility work for your hips. When appropriate, we also use dry needling and cupping. Recovering from hip surgery or a hip replacement? Learn more about our post-surgery rehab.
We also work with athletes whose sports put heavy demands on their hips, including grapplers, weightlifters, and runners. We build your rehab around the positions required for your sport so you can return to training with confidence. If golf is your sport, learn more about our golf-specific physical therapy.
Hip pain doesn't have to be your new normal. Contact us for a free phone consultation and to schedule your initial appointment.
Call NowFrequently Asked Questions
Hip pain can come from sudden injuries, like falls or car accidents, or develop gradually from overuse. Common conditions include osteoarthritis, bursitis, labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), muscle strains, and tendinitis.
Common symptoms include aching or sharp pain in the hip, groin, or buttock, stiffness, and clicking or popping. You may also have trouble putting weight on your leg, getting out of bed or a chair, or lying on your side.
Your physical therapist will find the source of your pain, whether it's within the hip, from nearby muscles, or referred from your lower back. From there, they'll build a personalized plan to reduce pain, improve mobility, strengthen muscles, and help you return to your daily activities.
Not always. Many labral tears and cases of FAI improve with physical therapy, especially when pain comes from how the hip is being loaded. Surgery may be worth considering if your symptoms don't improve after a solid course of rehab, or if your hip often catches or locks. Your physical therapist can help you understand your options and work with your doctor.
Yes. Guard retention, playing open guard, and takedowns can strain the groin and hip flexors or irritate the labrum. Physical therapy can shorten your recovery time by restoring mobility, rebuilding strength, and guiding a safe return to training. If your hip catches or locks, or you can't put weight on your leg, see a doctor before returning to training.
Ready to Move Better and Perform at a Higher Level?
Whether you have questions or are ready to get started, reach out and we'll get back to you promptly. You can also call or text us directly to speak with Dr. Phil Yoon.