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Hip Pain and Bursitis Physiotherapy

Hip pain is easy to underestimate. It can feel like a local ache, or it can show up as pain in the groin, outer thigh, buttock, or even the knee — because the hip joint and the muscles that surround it influence a wide stretch of the lower body. At InHealth Physiotherapy in Etobicoke, a thorough hip assessment identifies the source of your pain accurately and builds a treatment plan that addresses it directly, not just the symptoms.

Common Hip Conditions We Treat

Hip pain in adults can arise from several different sources. Conditions we commonly assess and treat at InHealth include:

  • Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip bursitis) inflammation of the bursa on the outer hip, causing sharp or aching lateral hip pain that's often worse lying on that side or going up stairs

  • Hip osteoarthritis: gradual wear of the hip joint causing deep groin pain, stiffness, and reduced walking tolerance; physiotherapy is among the most evidence-supported approaches to managing hip OA without surgery

  • Hip flexor strain or tendinopathy: pain and stiffness at the front of the hip from overuse, sudden load, or prolonged sitting; common in runners and cyclists

  • Gluteal tendinopathy: tendon irritation on the outer hip and buttock, often confused with hip bursitis, that responds well to a specific loading program

  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): abnormal bony contact inside the hip joint with flexion or rotation, causing deep groin pain and limited range in younger active adults

  • Hip labral tears: tears of the cartilage rim around the hip socket, causing clicking, locking, or deep groin pain, often associated with FAI

  • Piriformis syndrome: buttock pain and sciatic-type symptoms from irritation of the piriformis muscle, which lies close to the sciatic nerve

  • Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome: lateral hip and outer knee pain common in distance runners

  • Post-surgical hip rehabilitation: after total hip replacement, hip arthroscopy, or labral repair

How We Assess and Treat Hip Pain

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history and carry out a hands-on assessment of the hip joint, surrounding musculature, lumbar spine, and pelvis — because hip pain is rarely isolated to the hip alone. Movement patterns, strength deficits, and load habits that contribute to the problem are all assessed.

Treatment is tailored to your findings and goals. Depending on your presentation, your plan may include:

  • Manual therapy: joint mobilization, soft tissue release, and hands-on techniques to restore hip mobility and reduce pain

  • Targeted exercise rehabilitation: progressive strengthening of the glutes, hip stabilizers, and core to offload irritated structures and address the underlying contributors

  • Shockwave Therapy: an effective, evidence-supported option for gluteal tendinopathy and greater trochanteric pain syndrome, particularly when the condition has been present for more than a few weeks

  • Acupuncture: to support pain relief and tissue healing

  • IFC and TENS: for acute pain management

  • Load management and activity modification: protecting the hip from aggravating positions and movements while maintaining as much activity as possible during recovery

  • Gait and movement re-education: addressing the movement patterns that place excess load on the hip

  • Custom orthotics assessment : when foot and lower limb mechanics are contributing to hip loading

For hip osteoarthritis, a structured physiotherapy program, particularly one focused on progressive hip strengthening has strong evidence for reducing pain and improving walking function, often delaying or avoiding the need for joint replacement.

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