What’s causing my hip pain after walking?

Walking is an excellent form of exercise, and it’s also something that most people do every day. However, feeling pain in your hip after walking can make you less enthusiastic about this activity. This type of pain can be caused by a variety of issues, but there are four specific issues that are likely to cause you hip pain after walking. 

1. Bursitis

A condition called bursitis could be the reason for hip pain after walking. This condition happens when the cushioning sacs called bursae become inflamed, and the inflammation can be the result of overuse, infections, poor posture or sports injuries. When bursitis is affecting the hip, it’s often called trochanteric bursitis after a structure in the hip called the greater trochanter. 

The greater trochanter is the point of the femur bone, and there’s a bursa on this point that can become inflamed. Trochanteric bursitis also tends to get worse after walking because the muscles that attach to the greater trochanter rub against the bursa, and this increases the irritation. 

2. Labral tear

Hip pain after walking can also be caused by a labral tear. The labrum is a cartilage structure, and it forms a thin lip around the hip socket in the pelvis. Typically, the labrum helps the hip move smoothly and keeps the ball of the femur seated firmly in the hip socket. However, tears in the labrum can cause pain in your hip. These tears could happen during a car accident or while playing sports.

3. Hip osteoarthritis

Another cause of hip pain after walking is hip osteoarthritis. It’s reported that 18.5% of men and 28.6% of women are likely to develop this type of arthritis in their lifetime. Hip osteoarthritis occurs when hip cartilage wears away naturally as you age. As a result, your bones can rub together as you walk and lead to post-walk pain. 

4. Pinched nerves

This issue can also lead to hip pain after you take a walk. Pinched nerves occur when nerves are caught between or rub against another body structure. This can include structures like muscles, tendons, bones and spinal discs. Sciatica, or a pinched sciatic nerve, can often lead to hip pain. The pain can be more intense after walking because the movement increases the pinching or irritation of the affected nerve. 

Hip pain after walking can be treated at Peak Performance

Our physical therapy experts at Peak Performance can treat the root cause of your hip pain. We’ve helped many patients successfully reduce hip pain, and we can even help you figure out why your hip hurts with a free screening. Then, we’ll develop a personalized therapy plan for you that targets your hip pain with therapy techniques such as: 

• Therapeutic exercises
• Anodyne^® therapy
• Ergonomics training
• Manual therapy
• Virtual therapy

Are you ready to find relief from your hip pain? Contact us today for more information about how we can treat your pain or to schedule an initial appointment.