Hip and gluteal pain can be incredibly frustrating. It affects how you walk, how you sleep, and for many of our patients in West Hampstead, it stops them from running or staying active. The difficulty with hip pain is that the “source” isn’t always where the “pain” is. A problem in your lower back can feel like a hip issue, and a hip restriction can cause deep gluteal aching.
Pain on the outside of the hip: Often tender to touch and painful to lie on at night (frequently linked to Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome or Bursitis).
Deep ache in the buttock: A persistent, “boring” pain that might travel slightly down the back of the leg (often associated with the Piriformis muscle or the SI joint).
Groin Pain: Often felt when putting on shoes or getting out of a car (usually indicating a more direct issue with the hip joint itself).
Pain that “catches”: A sharp sensation during specific movements or changes in direction.
For runners, the hip is the “engine room” of your stride. When this area is painful, it is rarely just an isolated muscle strain; it is usually a sign of a biomechanical imbalance.
As a Running Coach and Osteopath, I look at hip pain through a different lens than a traditional clinic. We don’t just treat the site of the pain; we look at your gait and your “loading” patterns.
Our Integrated Approach for Runners:
Direct Treatment: Using hands-on Osteopathic techniques to reduce muscle tension and improve joint glide.
Gait Assessment: Identifying if a “pelvic drop” or over-striding is causing the repetitive strain.
The “Keep Training” Strategy: We avoid telling you to “just stop running.” Instead, we find the “Safe Zone” of activity that allows you to maintain fitness while the tissue heals.
Pregnancy puts unique demands on the pelvis. As your center of gravity shifts and ligaments soften, the gluteal muscles often work “overtime” to stabilize the hips, leading to significant discomfort or Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP).
We provide gentle, safe, and effective treatment to balance the pelvis and relieve the strain on those overworked gluteal muscles, helping you stay comfortable and mobile throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Also, if you are keen to get back to running and other sports post partum, we can help. You can learn more about returning to sport post-partum
Remember: Early intervention is key. Addressing pain promptly prevents long-term setbacks. Osteopathy helps you return to sport stronger than ever.
Longer Sessions (45 mins for 1st appointment): This gives us time to do the deep soft tissue work that hip issues often require, rather than just giving you a sheet of exercises.
Whole-Body Mechanics: We check your feet and your lower back, as these are often the “silent” contributors to hip pain.
A Referral Promise: If your pain suggests a labral tear or requires an MRI, I will tell you immediately. We work closely with local specialists to ensure you get the right imaging if “manual therapy” isn’t the primary solution.
Don’t wait for a “twinge” to become a chronic injury. Whether you are training for a marathon or simply want to walk to the shops without pain, we are here to help.
Book a Hip & Gluteal Assessment Located in West Hampstead, NW6.
