Author: Mr Oliver Eaton BSc (Hons), PG.Cert – Orthopaedic Specialist
Reviewed by: Mr William Sharples BSc (Hons) – Pain Management Expert
Last Updated: September 2025
In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about hip pain and the most effective ways to treat it, including an advanced treatment called Prolotherapy.
Hip pain when running is a common complaint, ranging from burning or aching to sharp pain in or around the hip joint. The pain can be mild or severe and may occur in the thigh, groin, buttock, or outer hip. Runners and athletes are especially prone to hip pain due to overuse injuries, stress fractures, or inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
What Is The Hip Joint?
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket synovial joint. The femoral head (ball) fits into the acetabulum (socket) of the pelvis. The joint is stabilized by ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and lubricated by fluid-filled bursae to allow smooth movement.[1]
Common Causes of Hip Pain Running
- Inflammation of the Bursae: Overtraining or trauma can inflame the bursae, causing swelling, sharp pain, and stiffness. Trochanteric bursitis causes deep lateral hip pain, while iliopsoas bursitis causes groin pain radiating to the knee.[2]
- Labral Cartilage Tears: Repetitive running can tear the labrum, causing aching pain, clicking, and instability. Pain may worsen with squatting or climbing stairs.[3]
- Osteoarthritis: Cartilage degeneration leads to pain, inflammation, and reduced cushioning in the hip joint, often with associated knee pain.[4]
- Stress Fracture: Overuse, poor footwear, or muscle imbalances can cause femoral neck stress fractures, resulting in groin pain during weight-bearing activities.[5]
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome: Overuse can irritate the IT band, causing pain in the hip, thigh, and knee, often with a popping sound.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis involves a medical history, physical examination, and imaging (X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound). Your provider will assess gait, weight-bearing, and hip range of motion.[6]
- Medical History: Recent injuries, symptoms, family history, and aggravating/relieving factors.
- Physical Exam: Examines hip, back, and legs for pain, swelling, and movement limitations.
- Imaging: X-rays for fractures or arthritis, MRI for soft tissue injuries, ultrasound for bursitis.
Treatment Options for Hip Pain
- Self-Care: RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation), assistive devices, and activity modification.
- Medications: NSAIDs for pain and inflammation; opioids for severe cases.
- Physical Therapy: Strengthening, stretching, and flexibility exercises (e.g., hip flexor stretches, pelvic tilts, hamstring stretches), as well as modalities like ultrasound and heat.[7]
- Steroid Injections: For severe inflammation or bursitis.
Prolotherapy for Hip Pain
In recent years, Prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community for its clinically proven ability to treat hip pain.
Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative benefits.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with tiny needles. This stimulates the production of collagen cells, which are essential for repairing the damage and helping hip pain.
As prolotherapy treats the root cause of hip pain, it is considered a long-term solution, preventing symptoms from returning.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Prolotherapy may not be suitable for everyone, and outcomes can vary. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific medical condition or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information you have read here.
Prevention of Hip Pain When Running
- Warm up before exercise
- Wear proper footwear
- Maintain good posture
- Strengthen hip and core muscles
- Eat a balanced diet for bone health
- Avoid overtraining and repetitive stress
Conclusion
Hip pain when running is common in athletes and runners due to overuse, injuries, and conditions like IT band syndrome, stress fractures, osteoarthritis, and labral tears. Most cases can be managed with self-care, medication, and physical therapy, but persistent pain may require advanced treatments like Prolotherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I relieve hip pain from running?
Use ice, NSAIDs, gentle stretching, and rest. For persistent pain, consider corticosteroid injections or physical therapy.
What causes hip pain in runners?
Common causes include bursitis, labral tears, muscle strains, osteoarthritis, and tendonitis—often due to overuse.
Does running damage hips?
Running is generally safe but can cause wear and tear on the hip joint over time, especially with poor form or overtraining.
How do I strengthen my hips for running?
Perform exercises like lunges, hip abduction, quadruped series, and heel drops. Rest and proper warm-up are also important.
Is it OK to run with hip pain?
No, running with hip pain can worsen the injury. Rest and seek medical advice before resuming activity.
Does running weaken your hips?
Running can strengthen hips if done properly, but excessive or improper running may lead to joint wear, especially in women with wider hips.
Case Study: Prolotherapy for Hip Pain Running
Case: A 35-year-old marathon runner with chronic hip pain unresponsive to physiotherapy and medications underwent three sessions of Prolotherapy at ProHealth Clinic. The patient reported a 70% reduction in pain and returned to running within two months, highlighting the potential of regenerative treatments for persistent hip pain.
Contact ProHealth Clinic Today for Your FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call
Don’t let hip pain control your life any longer. Join the thousands of patients who have found lasting relief through prolotherapy at ProHealth Clinic.
Get in Touch
Phone: +44 1234 380345
Email: info@prohealthclinic.co.uk
Our Clinic Locations
London: 104 Harley Street, Marylebone, W1G 7JD
Manchester: The Hadley Clinic, 64 Bridge Street, M3 3BN
Bedford: The Village Medical Centre, Kingswood Way, MK40 4GH
All clinics offer the same award-winning prolotherapy treatment with convenient appointment times, including evenings and weekends.
Author Bio
Having performed over 10,000 procedures, Mr Oliver Eaton is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the field of treating hip pain, with patients travelling to see him from across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
With over 12 years of clinical experience, Oliver is dedicated to helping patients understand their symptoms associated with hip pain and providing effective treatment options to alleviate them.
He qualified in Prolozone Therapy and Prolotherapy in America with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. He continued on to complete further qualifications at the Royal Society of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital in London, Keele University’s Anatomy & Surgical Training Centre, and the medical department of Heidelberg University in Germany.
Mr Eaton’s expertise has been featured in many national news and media publications, including The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, Women’s Health Magazine, and The Scotsman.
Over the years he has had the privilege of treating many elite-level athletes, including both Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.
LinkedIn profile: Oliver Eaton
References
- Heckmann N, Tezuka T, Bodner RJ, Dorr LD. Functional Anatomy of the Hip Joint. J Arthroplasty 2021;36:374–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2020.07.065
- Tyler TF, Fukunaga T, Gellert J. Rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries of the hip and pelvis. Int J Sports Phys Ther 2014;9:785–97.
- Groh MM, Herrera J. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 2009;2:105–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-009-9052-9
- Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, Khlopas A, Husni ME, Muschler GF, et al. Hip Osteoarthritis: A Primer. Perm J 2018;22:89–94. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/17-084
- Bateman L, Vuppala S, Porada P, Carter W, Baijnath C, Burman K, et al. Medical management in the acute hip fracture patient: a comprehensive review for the internist. Ochsner J 2012;12:101–10.
- Plante M, Wallace R, Busconi BD. Clinical Diagnosis of Hip Pain. Clin Sports Med 2011;30:225–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2010.12.003
- Wilson J, Furukawa M. Evaluation of the Patient with Hip Pain – American Family Physician. Am Fam Physician 2014:27-34.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making treatment decisions.