Your hip joint is one of the strongest and most powerful joints in your body, built to support you through every movement, whether you’re walking, running, jumping, or simply standing. This ball-and-socket joint is where your pelvis and femur (thigh bone) meet, working alongside muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage to provide both stability and flexibility.
But when hip pain sets in, it can slow you down and keep you from doing what you love. Understanding how your hip works and what might be causing your discomfort is the first step. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports medicine physicians at Hughes Health to get a step closer toward relief!
About the Hip
Built for Movement, Designed for Strength
Your hip joint is a powerful ball-and-socket structure that gives your upper leg the freedom to move forward, backward, side to side, and rotate, all while supporting your body’s weight.
At the core of this movement is the head of the femur (the largest and strongest bone in your body), which fits securely into the acetabulum, a cavity in your pelvis. This joint is lined with a protective ring of cartilage called the labrum, which cushions movement and helps keep everything in place.
When your hip is healthy, it allows for seamless motion and stability. But when pain or injury strikes, even simple movements can feel difficult. That’s where we come in helping you understand your hip and the best treatment options for lasting relief. At Hughes Health, we pinpoint the root cause of hip pain and create a customized treatment plan to restore function and keep you moving.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
Understanding Why It Happens
If you’re experiencing hip pain, you’re not alone. When pain strikes your hip, it can be frustrating and difficult to pinpoint the cause on your own. That’s why getting expert guidance is key. Pain can stem from overuse, injuries, or even underlying conditions with each requiring the right approach to treatment.
As sports medicine & movement specialists in Westerville, OH, we see it all the time. Your hips are the largest and strongest joints needed to distribute tremendous amounts of weight while standing and walking. So, when pain starts to creep in, it can have a big impact on your daily life. Whether from repetitive movements or sudden injuries, there are many possible causes for discomfort in these areas. For this reason, hip pain is a very common condition that is treated by our doctors at Hughes Health.
Acute vs. Chronic Hip Pain: What’s the Difference?
• Acute Hip Pain happens suddenly, often due to an injury, car accident, or fall. The sooner you address it, the faster your recovery.
• Chronic Hip Pain lasts more than 3 months and can be harder to treat because your body starts adapting to the discomfort. That’s why early intervention is key!
1) Inflammation & Irritation – Conditions like tendinitis (inflamed tendons) and bursitis (inflamed bursa sacs) can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.
2) Arthritis & Cartilage Damage – Wear and tear on the joint’s cartilage can lead to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Tears from sports, collisions, or falls can also cause joint instability.
3) Sprains & Strains – Ligament sprains and muscle strains happen when tissues are overstretched or injured, leading to pain and weakness.
4) Impingement – When a structure in your hip is pinched or compressed, it can create sharp pain and restrict movement.
The good news? There are many treatment options available, and you don’t have to navigate the pain alone. Our expert sports medicine doctors can help you find the right solution so you can get back to moving, working, and living without limits.
Common Conditions of the Hip
Hip pain can come from overuse, injury, or underlying conditions that affect the muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. Some of the most common causes include:
Tendinitis
Inflammation of the tendons in the glutes, hamstrings, or hip flexors, often due to repetitive movements.
Overstretching or tearing a muscle from fatigue, overuse, or improper movement can cause pain in the hip and thigh.
Hip Bursitis
The bursa, small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints, can become inflamed due to overuse, injury, or arthritis, leading to sharp or aching pain.
A common condition that wears down the cartilage in the hip joint, causing pain, stiffness, and grinding sensations.
Synovitis of the Hip
Inflammation of the synovial tissues surrounding the hip joint, often leading to pain and swelling.
Hip Impingement / Femoracetabular Impingement (FAI)
When bone spurs or abnormal hip structures pinch soft tissues, leading to discomfort and limited movement.
Snapping Hip Syndrome
A popping or snapping sensation in the hip, caused by tight tendons or cartilage damage from repetitive bending motions.
Treatments for the Hip
Find Relief Once & For All For Your Hip Pain in Westerville, OH
Before we are able to treat your hip pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your hip pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using orthopedic and functional movement testing, typically used at the elite and professional athletic level. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For chronic hip pain, studies have shown PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy resulted in 85% improvement alone by using focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation with no discomfort
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time: Adaptable for You
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in non-invasive, non-surgical sports medicine and movement dysfunctions, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time! The right plan for the best results is a click away.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.