One sharp turn on the football field. One awkward landing after a grand jeté. One deeper-than-usual squat. Now, you find yourself dealing with hip pain, and it’s making it harder to participate in the activities that matter most to you.
Sound familiar? Hip pain is a fairly common complaint, given that the hips are an important load-bearing joint. Fortunately, most hip problems respond well to a personalized treatment plan. At Michigan Orthopedic Center, our team helps you rebuild the strength and control you need to restore hip function.
A Closer Look at the Hip
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint in which the rounded top of the thigh bone fits into a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis. Cartilage in the joint helps distribute forces and allows the joint surfaces to move smoothly, while a ring of tissue called the labrum helps deepen the socket. Finally, several muscles support the hip joint and help generate force whenever you accelerate, pivot, kick, jump, or balance.
As you can see, there are many moving parts in your hip, and they all help ensure mobility and stability throughout the joint. However, it also means that hip pain can have a number of potential causes, depending on which structures are affected.
Potential Reasons Your Hip Might Be Hurting
Muscle Strains
- Overstretching or overloading the hip flexors, groin muscles, hamstrings, or gluteal muscles can cause pain and weakness.
Gluteal Tendinopathy
- A tendon on the outside of the hip becomes sensitive to excessive load, making it painful to run or lie on your side.
Labral Injury
- The cartilage ring around the socket becomes irritated or torn, leading to sensations of catching, clicking, or pain with pivoting.
Hip Osteoarthritis
- Changes in joint cartilage can cause stiffness, aching, and reduced mobility.
Bone Stress Injury
- Repeated loading outpaces the bone’s ability to recover. Runners and dancers may develop deep groin pain that worsens with impact.
Knowing When To Get Hip Pain Checked Out
Occasionally, mild hip pain might fade after a day or two of rest. Generally speaking, though, it’s better to get hip pain checked out as early as possible, since that means you can begin the rehab process sooner. Our team can review your symptoms and determine which hip structures may be contributing to your pain.
We recommend scheduling an appointment if you notice the following:
- Pain persists longer than a few days
- Pain returns whenever you participate in your chosen sports or other physical activity
- You notice changes in your technique
- Daily tasks are harder to perform
Addressing Hip Pain at Michigan Orthopedic Center
Our first step is to learn more about your symptoms and goals. We’ll take a detailed health history and perform an in-depth physical exam that looks at your hip and spinal mobility, strength, balance, and movement patterns.
Once we understand the factors contributing to your pain, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific symptoms, condition, and recovery goals. We take an active approach to care, so your treatment will generally involve gradually loading the hip to restore strength and mobility, helping to promote long-term function.
We’ll also work with you to develop a return-to-activity schedule based on your physical readiness. Strength, range of motion, and sports-specific skills all matter, and we’ll guide you through an activity progression designed to get you safely back in the game.
For example, a runner may build from walking to intervals and hills. A dancer may progress from controlled barre work to turns, jumps, and full rehearsals.
Treatment Techniques We Might Recommend
Manual Therapy
- Joint or soft-tissue techniques to help reduce pain and improve motion, creating a useful foundation for active rehabilitation.
Progressive Exercise
- Safely building hip and trunk strength, tendon capacity, mobility, balance, and power. The challenge increases as your symptoms and function improve.
Movement Retraining
- Practicing running, landing, cutting, lifting, or dance technique to improve control and prepare for real demands.
Education
- Understanding pain, recovery, pacing, sleep, and training response helps you make informed decisions between visits.
Get Back to Your Best
Hip pain doesn’t have to keep you from the things you love. A detailed assessment and progressive treatment plan can help you move with greater comfort, restore capacity, and reduce the risk of another setback.
Book an assessment with Michigan Orthopedic Center today to get started. We’ll help you recover safely, restore function, perform better, and stay in the game.
Don’t Let Hip Pain Sideline You
Stop letting discomfort dictate what you can and can’t do. Whether you’re an athlete, a dancer, or just looking to move through your daily life without a nagging ache, the team at Michigan Orthopedic Center is here to help. Book your comprehensive assessment today, and together we’ll build a personalized plan to restore your strength, mobility, and confidence so you can get back to doing what you love.
Exercise of the Month
Dead Bug
(Core, Lower Back)
Lie down on your back with your arms by your sides, your knees bent to 90-degrees, and your feet on the floor. Raise one arm up straight and one knee up towards the ceiling at the same time. Your arm should stay straight and be pointing straight up at the top and your knee should be at 90-degrees and be pointing straight up at the top. 3 Sets, 10 Reps.
Recovery In Lansing, Okemos, And Mid-Michigan
See How Patients Have Recovered In Lansing & Okemos
We’ve helped thousands of people in Lansing, Okemos, and the surrounding Mid-Michigan region return to the life they love. From everyday walkers to elite athletes, our patients’ stories are proof that with the right care and support, healing is possible.
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“I have never been made to feel like I am just a number.”
Dr. Meredith Heisey recently replaced my left shoulder, she has also repaired both rotator cuffs, and put my wrist back together after a fall while I out of the country. Dr. Heisey does not sugar coat the situation, she tells it like it is and I admire her for that. She and her team are…
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JANICE K GEARHART
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“It was a great experience.”
Two weeks ago today I had my right knee completely replaced by Dr. Taunt. He is simply the best. Yes I do have some swelling and stiffness but how many can say that they are at 116 degrees of flex at this stage. In regards to the staff at McLaren , everyone was professional and…
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TOM N.
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“I am grateful to be walking again!”
I am very grateful to Dr. Swords. After a traumatic fall from a ladder where I broke my knee in 3 pieces, Dr. Swords excellent work allowed me to walk in 4 months. I was able to get back to work in only four months after surgery. Today I am thankful for the magnificent care…
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M.S.L.
Elite Care for Hip and Knee Pain or Injuries
ABOUT DR. GOETHALS
Dr. Josh Goethals is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of complex knee disorders, shoulder arthroscopy, and hip preservation.
Dr. Goethals completed his medical education at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following medical school, Dr. Goethals pursued his orthopedic residency at Garden City Hospital, where he gained comprehensive training in the field of orthopedic surgery. To further enhance his expertise, Dr. Goethals completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Detroit Medical Center. This fellowship provided him with specialized training in the latest techniques and advancements in the field of sports medicine.
Dr. Goethals has a particular focus on complex knee disorders, including patellofemoral instability, anterior knee pain, knee ligament injuries, cartilage restoration, and knee preservation techniques such as osteotomy and partial knee replacements. He is well-versed in the latest advancements in knee surgery and utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to provide personalized treatment plans for his patients.
In addition to his expertise in knee disorders, Dr. Goethals is highly skilled in shoulder arthroscopy. He specializes in the treatment of shoulder instability, rotator cuff injuries, and shoulder replacements. Through minimally invasive techniques, he aims to restore shoulder function and alleviate pain, allowing his patients to regain their active lifestyles.
Furthermore, Dr. Goethals is experienced in hip preservation, including hip arthroscopy, labral injuries, and femoral acetabular impingement. He understands the importance of preserving the hip joint and utilizes advanced techniques to address hip conditions, providing his patients with optimal outcomes.
He is skilled in treating disorders of the ankle and elbow related to sports injuries.
Dr. Goethals is committed to staying at the forefront of his field and regularly attends conferences and workshops to expand his knowledge and refine his surgical skills. He is an active member of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopedics, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Michigan Orthopedic Society.
EDUCATION
- MEDICAL: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
TRAINING
- ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY RESIDENCY: Garden City Hospital
- ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP: Detroit Medical Center
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- American Academy of Orthopedics
- American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine
- Michigan Orthopedic Society
HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS
10-Minute Sausage Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccolini
This one-pan dinner has a nice buttery sauce, so serve it with some crusty bread for mopping.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces fully cooked Italian sausage (about 4 links), sliced into 1/4″-thick coins
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or finely chopped
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 2 bunches broccolini (about 1 pound), trimmed, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- Crusty bread (for serving; optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the base. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, garlic, and thyme, stir to combine, and cook, pressing down on some of the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to encourage bursting, 2 minutes. Add broccolini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted.
Step 2: Serve. Divide sausage mixture among plates. Serve with bread alongside, if desired.
