Hip pain is a common complaint that can be caused by a wide variety of problems. The precise location of hip pain can provide clues about the underlying cause.
Problems within the hip joint itself tend to result in pain on the inside of the hip or the groin. Hip pain on the outside of the hip, upper thigh or outer buttock is usually caused by problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues that surround the hip joint.
Hip pain can sometimes be caused by diseases and conditions in other areas of the body, such as the lower back. This type of pain is called referred pain.
Sept. 01, 2023
- Firestein GS, et al. Hip and knee pain. In: Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Miller M, et al. Hip diagnosis and decision making. In: DeLee, Drez, and Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Paoloni J. Approach to the adult with unspecified hip pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Nigrovic PA. Approach to hip pain in childhood. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Chamberlain R. Hip pain in adults: Evaluation and differential diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2021;103:81.
- Hip strains. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-strains. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-bursitis/. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Sciatica. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sciatica/. Accessed April 30, 2023.
- Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. May 12, 2023.