Hip Pain
The hip is of necessity closely related to the low back and pelvis.
When people talk about 'hip pain', they often mean pain on the side of back of the pelvic region. The hip joint itself is actually much deeper in than most people think, and classically people with hip issues will complain of pain in the groin area. Look at the image on the right, the hip joint is halfway between the pubic bone and the bony iliac crest that forms the top of the pelvis. Hip pain can also refer down the thigh, and into (the front of) the knee. Pain on the outside or back of the pelvic region may come from the hip, but may also be due to a bursitis, referred pain or nerve irritation in the back, or directly from the gluteal (buttock) muscles. |
No examination of the hip is complete without also assessing the rest of the lower extremity (i.e. foot, ankle, leg and knee) and back areas.
It is also important to rule out any underlying medical issues that can generate pain in these regions, such as gynaecological or other visceral (internal organ-related) problems.
It is also important to rule out any underlying medical issues that can generate pain in these regions, such as gynaecological or other visceral (internal organ-related) problems.