Hip Pain Treatment in Fremont, CA
Hip pain can affect people of all ages — from young athletes dealing with overuse injuries to older adults managing degenerative changes — and it has a way of making virtually every activity more difficult. At Joly Chiropractic in Fremont, CA, Dr. Joseph J. Joly takes a whole-body approach to hip pain, evaluating both the hip joint itself and the surrounding structures — including the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints, and lower extremity soft tissues — to identify the true source of your pain. Using precise extremity adjustments and Active Release Technique (ART), we deliver targeted, effective treatment that gets to the root of your hip pain. Call (510) 249-9037 to schedule your evaluation today.
What Causes Hip Pain?
Hip pain is one of the most anatomically complex conditions to evaluate because the hip sits at the intersection of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and lower extremity — meaning dysfunction at any of these adjacent structures can produce pain that is perceived as originating in the hip. Accurate diagnosis requires assessing all of these regions together, not just the hip joint in isolation. Common causes of hip pain that we treat at Joly Chiropractic include:
Hip Joint Subluxation: Like any other joint in the body, the hip joint can lose proper alignment and mechanics — particularly following trauma, overuse, or repetitive loading in a compromised position. Extremity adjustments to restore proper hip joint mechanics often produce rapid and significant improvement in hip pain and movement.
Hip Flexor and Piriformis Dysfunction: The psoas, iliacus, and piriformis muscles play critical roles in hip movement and stability. When these muscles develop adhesions — from prolonged sitting, athletic activity, or compensatory tension from lower back dysfunction — they restrict hip motion and produce deep buttock, groin, and anterior hip pain. ART is exceptionally effective for releasing these deep hip muscles.
Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa on the outer side of the hip — often from repetitive friction by the IT band or gluteal tendons — produces lateral hip pain that is aggravated by walking, lying on the affected side, and climbing stairs. Both the bursal inflammation and the IT band and gluteal soft tissue dysfunction contributing to it respond well to ART treatment.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: The sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum to the iliac bones of the pelvis and bear the full transmission of forces between the upper and lower body. When these joints become restricted or inflamed, they produce deep buttock pain that radiates into the hip and upper leg — and is frequently misidentified as either hip joint or disc-based pain.
Lumbar Referred Pain: Misaligned lumbar vertebrae, disc herniations, and facet joint problems frequently refer pain into the hip and buttock region. In these cases, treating only the hip without addressing the lumbar spine will produce little lasting improvement. Dr. Joly’s Gonstead examination evaluates the full lumbar and sacral spine as part of every hip pain assessment. Visit our low back pain page for more information.
Hip Osteoarthritis: Degenerative changes in the hip joint — cartilage loss, bone spur formation, and joint space narrowing — produce progressive groin and hip pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. While arthritis cannot be reversed, chiropractic care can significantly reduce symptoms and improve function by optimizing joint mechanics and addressing surrounding soft tissue restriction.
Labral Tears: The labrum is the cartilage ring that deepens the hip socket and stabilizes the femoral head. Labral tears — from trauma or repetitive loading — produce deep groin pain and a feeling of catching or clicking in the hip. Conservative care can manage many labral tear symptoms and may reduce the need for surgical intervention.
How We Treat Hip Pain at Joly Chiropractic
Every hip pain patient at Joly Chiropractic receives a comprehensive evaluation that includes assessment of the hip joint, the lumbar and sacral spine, the sacroiliac joints, and the surrounding soft tissues. Dr. Joly uses the Gonstead Technique to identify and correct any contributing lumbar or sacral spinal dysfunction, performs targeted hip extremity adjustments to restore proper joint mechanics, and uses ART to release the deep hip muscles, IT band, and fascial restrictions that are limiting your movement and contributing to your pain.
Hip health is closely connected to both knee and lower back health. Visit our knee injuries page and sciatica page if you’re experiencing related symptoms. Call (510) 249-9037 or book your appointment online today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Pain Treatment
Can chiropractic care treat hip pain without surgery?
Yes — in the majority of cases, hip pain conditions including hip joint dysfunction, bursitis, hip flexor dysfunction, sacroiliac problems, and even mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis can be effectively managed with conservative chiropractic care. Surgery is generally reserved for severe structural damage such as advanced hip osteoarthritis requiring joint replacement or significant labral tears. Dr. Joly will give you an honest assessment of whether your condition is likely to respond to conservative care.
How do I know if my hip pain is coming from my hip or my lower back?
This is one of the most common diagnostic challenges in musculoskeletal medicine — and one of the reasons a thorough clinical evaluation is so important. Lumbar disc problems, facet joint dysfunction, and sacroiliac joint issues all refer pain into the hip and buttock region in patterns that closely mimic true hip joint pain. Dr. Joly’s Gonstead examination systematically assesses both the lumbar spine and the hip to determine the true source of your pain — and often finds that both regions are contributing simultaneously.
Can tight hip flexors cause hip pain?
Yes — chronically tight or restricted hip flexors, particularly the psoas and iliacus muscles, are one of the most common contributors to anterior hip pain, groin tightness, and reduced hip extension. Prolonged sitting is the primary modern cause of hip flexor tightness. These muscles also directly affect lumbar lordosis and can contribute to lower back pain when severely restricted. ART is the most effective treatment available for releasing deep hip flexor adhesions.
Is hip pain related to sciatica?
Hip and buttock pain can sometimes be related to sciatica — particularly when the sciatic nerve is being compressed by the piriformis muscle in the deep buttock (piriformis syndrome). True hip joint pain and lumbar disc-based sciatica are distinct conditions, but they can co-exist and must both be assessed and addressed for complete recovery. Visit our sciatica page for more detail.
Can chiropractic care slow the progression of hip arthritis?
Regular chiropractic care that maintains proper hip and lumbar joint mechanics may help reduce the abnormal mechanical stress that accelerates articular cartilage degeneration in arthritic hips. While arthritis progression cannot be fully stopped, patients who maintain better joint alignment and movement tend to experience slower functional decline and less pain than those who don’t. Chiropractic maintenance care is a valuable component of long-term arthritic hip management.
How does hip dysfunction affect the knees and lower back?
The hip sits at the center of the lower extremity kinetic chain and directly influences both the knee and the lumbar spine. Hip abductor weakness causes the femur to internally rotate under load, placing abnormal stress on the knee. Restricted hip extension forces the lumbar spine to compensate with excessive lordosis, increasing lumbar disc and facet joint stress. Restoring proper hip function often produces simultaneous improvement in both knee and lower back pain. Visit our knee injuries and low back pain pages for more.
How do I schedule a hip pain evaluation at Joly Chiropractic?
Call (510) 249-9037 or use our online appointment form to book your first visit. The consultation is free and the first exam and treatment visit is $65. Visit our new patient page for intake forms and details on your first visit.
