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Do you experience painful hips when walking? If yes, remember that it can happen for several reasons. From injuries and strains to arthritis and muscle tightness, painful hips when walking can occur for a lot of reasons and at any age.
The good news is that the pain is usually temporary and goes away after some time. Experiencing sharp or persistent pain, though, can be a more serious issue, and in some cases, require immediate medical attention.
Common symptoms of painful hips when walking
If your hips hurt when walking, the pain typically can be felt in the front thigh area as well as in the groins. However, the pain can extend to the lower back and knee and may cause mobility issues.
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These changes often cause muscle stiffness and weakness. They can also lead to difficulty with everyday movements and activities like sitting, walking, standing and climbing stairs.
What are the causes of painful hips when walking?
There are a lot of reasons why the hip joint pains when walking. Some of the common ones may include:
#1 Injury, inflammation and damage
One of the most common reasons for painful hips when walking is injuries and damage to the hip joints. Injuries to the hips and connecting muscles like the knee and lower back can cause inflammation and swelling in the ligaments and tendons and cause severe pain when walking.
#2 Arthritis
Arthritis can affect people at any age and is a common cause of painful hips. Old injuries or even fractures may increase risk of arthritis in later years.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but the ones that affect the joints are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Both are common among people over 60.
#3 Tendinitis
Painful hips when walking can also happen because of tendinitis, a condition in which the tendons become inflamed, irritated and swollen.
Tendinitis pain usually occurs in the area where bone and tendon meet and is often caused by overuse of tendons or injuries. Treatments may include RICE, physical therapy, painkillers and braces.
#4 Bursitis
Bursitis can also be a potential reason for outside hip pain when walking. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction between the tendons, bones and muscles around the joints.
Bursitis pain occurs when the bursae become irritated and inflamed and is often because of overuse of muscles. Common treatments for bursitis may include physical therapy, exercise, rest, splints and braces, hot and cold compress, and surgery.
#5 Sciatica
Sciatica is also a common cause of painful hips when walking. It generally refers to the pain caused by the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which is the widest and longest nerve in the body and runs from the hips to the feet.
A sciatica pain can be felt in the buttocks and legs and typically occurs on one side of the body.
Treatments for hip pain while waking
While hip pain and inflammation can be irritating, knowing its root cause and implementing ways for pain relief can make your condition more manageable.
Treatments for hip pain usually depend on its cause. While some pain goes away on its own without any treatment, others might require physical therapy and other treatment options.
In many cases, though, physical therapy and exercises work best and help treat and prevent hip pain. Exercises like glute bridges and clamshells strengthen the hip joints, reduce stiffness, strengthen the core and back, and also helps keep the hips balanced while running and walking.
Other treatment options may include:
- over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs
- numbing creams
- knee braces and splits
- shoe insoles (orthotics)
- pain relief ointments
- steroid injections
- muscle relaxants
- massage therapy
- chiropractic sessions
How can you manage painful hips when walking?
You can easily manage painful hips by following certain tips. These include wearing comfortable footwear, using a back-support brace, avoiding walking on hard surfaces for long durations and wearing comfortable underpants that perfectly support the hips and waist.
If you have a history of knee pain or any kind of foot problems, make sure you use a shoe insole or a knee brace for support. It's also important that you exercise regularly, and add some good lower body stretching exercises to your routine.
If the pain persists for longer than two days or exacerbates, consult a doctor, and seek medical guidance.
