Is hip pain slowing you down, making it harder to walk, sleep, or enjoy your favorite activities?
Hip discomfort isn’t just frustrating—it can affect your entire quality of life. Whether it starts gradually or comes on suddenly, untreated hip pain can lead to limited mobility, muscle weakness, and loss of independence. We’ve helped patients from Clarke County, Oconee County, Madison County, and Morgan County overcome hip pain without relying on surgery or long-term medication.
>>>Book your appointment and start your recovery with a personalized care plan and get back to moving pain-free.
Why Hip Pain Happens
Your hip joint is a powerful structure that supports much of your body’s weight during daily movement. But because of its complex mechanics and frequent use, it’s also vulnerable to breakdown over time.
Pain can result from direct injury, overuse, poor posture, previous surgeries, or age-related joint degeneration. In some cases, pain felt in the hip is actually referred from the back or pelvis—something we carefully evaluate during your physical therapy assessment.
We often treat patients who are unsure where their hip pain comes from. Some say it started after a long walk, others after months of sitting or a recent fall. In every case, the key is identifying the root cause so we can treat it—not just mask the symptoms.
Most Common Causes of Hip Pain
At our clinics, we frequently see the following conditions contributing to hip pain:
- Osteoarthritis: This degenerative joint disease leads to cartilage breakdown, causing stiffness, inflammation, and reduced range of motion.
- Hip bursitis: Inflammation of the small sacs (bursae) around the joint causes sharp pain, especially when lying on your side or climbing stairs.
- Tendinopathy: Overuse or muscle imbalances can irritate the tendons around the hip, causing pain during movement or after activity.
- Labral tears: The cartilage ring that stabilizes the hip can become torn due to trauma or repetitive movement, often leading to clicking or instability.
- Referred pain from the spine: Lower back issues, such as herniated discs or nerve compression, may present as hip or groin pain.
The good news? These conditions respond extremely well to conservative care—and physical therapy is often the first step in real, lasting relief.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapy doesn’t just treat your hip—it targets the underlying reasons your pain developed in the first place.
Our licensed therapists begin by evaluating your movement, strength, posture, and gait. From there, we create a treatment plan that restores balance and mobility without overloading the joint.
Depending on your needs, your plan may include:
- Manual therapy to improve joint and soft tissue mobility
- Strengthening exercises for the glutes, hips, and core
- Neuromuscular re-education using the Neubie
- Pain relief techniques such as Dry Needling
- Balance and gait training to restore safe, confident movement
We also offer HRV Therapy to promote nervous system recovery, especially helpful for chronic pain or post-surgical patients.
When to Seek Help for Hip Pain
Not all soreness requires treatment—but there are clear signs that your hip pain may need professional care. If your pain lasts more than a week without improvement, disrupts your sleep or daily activities, or makes it hard to walk or climb stairs, those are strong indicators that something more serious could be going on. Other red flags include sharp pain when transitioning from sitting to standing, limping, or a noticeable reduction in your range of motion.
These are all signs your body is compensating—or breaking down—and early intervention can prevent more severe damage. Our clinics in East Athens, Danielsville, Madison, and Watkinsville and Oconee offer convenient access to the care you need.
Ready to Walk Without Hip Pain?
You don’t have to keep living around your pain. Whether you’re struggling with stiffness in the morning, pain with walking, or limited motion after an injury or surgery, we’re here to help you move forward—stronger and more confident than before.
Our team serves the Athens-area community with expert-led physical therapy and proven solutions for hip pain. From your first visit, we’ll create a plan that’s personalized to your body and your goals. You’ll gain strength, improve balance, and feel supported every step of the way.
Schedule your hip evaluation today or contact us to learn how we can help you reclaim the comfort and freedom that hip pain has taken away.
Licensed Physical Therapist, MDT certified, and the CEO of East Athens Physical Therapy, serving communities across Clarke, Oconee, Madison, and Morgan counties. With over two decades of experience and certification in the McKenzie Method, Jim Mike combines hands-on care with cutting-edge technology to help patients recover faster and stay active.
