Hip Pain Is Rarely Just a Hip Problem
Hip pain is one of the most commonly mismanaged musculoskeletal complaints — not because it is difficult to treat, but because it is frequently treated in isolation from the structures that are driving it. The hip joint does not function independently. It works in close coordination with the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints, pelvis, and pelvic floor — and dysfunction in any of these regions can produce, perpetuate, or mimic hip pain in ways that make accurate diagnosis genuinely challenging.
Patients with hip pain often receive treatment focused exclusively on the hip itself — stretching, strengthening, manual therapy directed at the hip joint — without assessment of the lumbar spine, SI joints, or pelvic floor that may be contributing to the problem. When the underlying driver is missed, the pain keeps coming back. And for a significant subset of patients with hip pain, pelvic floor dysfunction is a major contributing factor that is almost never assessed in standard care.
At Bray Chiropractic & Wellness in Glastonbury, hip pain is evaluated as part of the lumbopelvic system — not as an isolated joint complaint.
The Hip as Part of the Lumbopelvic System
Understanding hip pain requires understanding how the hip functions within the broader lumbopelvic system. The hip joint is the articulation between the head of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis. Its mobility and stability depend on the coordinated function of multiple muscle groups — the gluteals, hip flexors, deep hip rotators, adductors, and the pelvic floor — as well as the integrity of the joint itself.
The relationship between the hip and the lumbar spine is bidirectional. Restricted hip mobility increases load on the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. Lumbar dysfunction alters hip mechanics and loading. Pelvic floor dysfunction affects the tension environment of the deep hip rotators and adductors — structures that directly influence hip joint mechanics and are a frequent source of hip and groin pain.
This interconnection means that effective hip pain treatment requires assessment of the full lumbopelvic system — not just the hip in isolation.
Common Hip Pain Conditions Treated
Hip pain presentations seen at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness include:
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
A condition in which the ball and socket of the hip joint make abnormal contact during movement — producing pain, restriction, and progressive joint irritation. FAI is common in athletes, active adults, and patients with certain structural hip variants. Management focuses on restoring optimal movement mechanics, reducing muscular contributors to impingement, and improving load tolerance through the hip.
Hip flexor dysfunction and iliopsoas syndrome
The iliopsoas — the primary hip flexor — is one of the most commonly involved muscles in hip and low back pain. Tightness, trigger point activity, and neuromuscular inhibition of the iliopsoas are frequent contributors to anterior hip pain, groin pain, and low back pain that are often missed or inadequately treated.
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Deep hip rotator dysfunction and piriformis syndrome
The deep hip rotators — including the piriformis — are frequently involved in hip, buttock, and sciatic pain. Piriformis syndrome, in which the sciatic nerve is irritated by the piriformis muscle, is a common and frequently misdiagnosed cause of buttock and leg pain. Learn more about Sciatica & Nerve Pain.
Gluteal tendinopathy
Degeneration and pain at the gluteal tendon insertions — typically at the greater trochanter — producing lateral hip pain that is often worse with prolonged sitting, crossing the legs, or single-leg loading. Responds well to progressive loading rehabilitation when properly assessed.
Hip labral pathology
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that deepens the hip socket and contributes to joint stability. Labral tears and degeneration can produce deep hip pain, clicking, and instability. Management focuses on optimizing hip mechanics and loading to reduce stress on the labrum and support function.
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Hip adductor and groin pain
Pain in the inner thigh and groin region frequently involves the adductor muscles, pubic symphysis, or both — and is common in athletes, particularly those involved in kicking sports, martial arts, and powerlifting. Pelvic floor involvement is a frequent contributor to adductor and groin pain that is rarely assessed. Learn more about Pelvic Floor Therapy.
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Hip pain with a pelvic floor component
For patients whose hip pain has not responded to standard treatment, pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most important contributing factors to assess. The pelvic floor shares fascial and muscular connections with the deep hip rotators and adductors — and tension patterns in the pelvic floor directly affect hip mechanics and pain.
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Why Hip Pain Often Doesn't Resolve With Standard Treatment
Several factors contribute to hip pain becoming chronic or recurrent:
Incomplete assessment.
Standard orthopedic assessment of the hip frequently focuses on the joint and surrounding musculature without evaluating the lumbar spine, SI joints, or pelvic floor. Missing any of these contributors means treatment is directed at the wrong target.
Exercise prescription without load assessment.
Strengthening the hip in isolation — without assessing how it is loading under functional demands — frequently produces temporary improvement followed by recurrence. The exercises may be appropriate but the loading strategy is wrong.
Overlooked pelvic floor contribution.
The deep hip rotators and adductors share functional connections with the pelvic floor that make pelvic floor dysfunction a common and frequently missed contributor to hip pain. This is particularly true for patients with adductor-related groin pain, deep hip pain, and hip pain that has not responded to conventional treatment.
How Hip Pain Is Evaluated at This Practice
Assessment of hip pain at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness includes:
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Detailed health history including onset, mechanism, activity relationship, and prior treatment history
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Full orthopedic assessment of the hip — including range of motion, provocation testing, and strength evaluation
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Lumbar spine and SI joint assessment — evaluating contributions from adjacent structures
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Functional movement assessment — how the hip loads during walking, squatting, and single-leg activity
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Soft tissue assessment — hip flexors, deep rotators, adductors, gluteals, and IT band
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Pelvic floor screening — particularly for patients with adductor-related groin pain, deep hip pain, or chronic presentations that haven't responded to prior care
How Hip Pain Is Treated at This Practice
Treatment for hip pain at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness is individualized based on assessment findings and may include:
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Chiropractic manipulation and mobilization of the hip joint, lumbar spine, and SI joints
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Soft tissue therapy and orthopedic massage for hip flexor, deep rotator, adductor, and gluteal contributors
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Dry needling for trigger point and neuromuscular components
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Pelvic floor assessment and rehabilitation when pelvic floor dysfunction is contributing to hip or groin symptoms
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Rehabilitative exercise targeting hip strength, motor control, and progressive load tolerance
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Sports-specific rehabilitation for athletes returning to training and competition
Learn more about Chiropractic Care, Sports Chiropractic, Pelvic Floor Therapy, and Rehabilitative Exercise at this practice.
Hip Pain Treatment in Glastonbury, CT
Patients with hip pain in Glastonbury, South Glastonbury, Hebron, Marlborough, East Hartford, Manchester, and the surrounding Hartford County area will find a thorough, lumbopelvic-integrated approach to hip pain care at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness that addresses the full clinical picture rather than the hip in isolation.
No referral is required. New patients can schedule directly online or by calling or texting (203) 303-4760. Bray Chiropractic & Wellness is in-network with Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Cigna (ASH), and CT Medicaid (Husky). Self-pay and HSA/FSA options are also available.