Hip pain when bending over is a common complaint, affecting individuals across various age groups and activity levels. The causes range from everyday muscle strains to more complex conditions involving joint degeneration or nerve compression.
Muscular and Tendon Issues
Muscle strains frequently cause hip pain when bending, affecting hip flexors, groin, and hamstrings. Hip flexor strains, common in athletes and those who sit for extended periods, occur when these muscles are overstretched or torn, causing pain when lifting the thigh towards the chest or bending forward. Groin strains, or adductor strains, involve tears in the inner thigh muscles, with pain often felt when bringing the legs together or raising the knee.
Tendonitis, inflammation of tendons, can also contribute to hip pain during bending. Conditions like iliopsoas tendonitis or gluteal tendinopathy arise from repetitive stress or overuse, causing tenderness and pain. Bending places tension on these inflamed tendons. Bursitis, specifically trochanteric bursitis, involves inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the hip joint. When inflamed, bending movements can compress the irritated tissue, resulting in a deep ache on the outer hip that may worsen with activity. This pain often radiates down the leg and can be noticeable when lying on the affected side.
Joint and Cartilage Problems
Structural issues within the hip joint cause pain when bending over. Osteoarthritis, often called “wear-and-tear arthritis,” involves the gradual breakdown of cartilage. As cartilage wears away, bone-on-bone friction occurs, leading to pain and stiffness that worsens with movement like bending. This can make everyday activities, such as tying shoes or rising from a chair, challenging. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, causes inflammation of the joint lining, leading to pain, stiffness, and restricted movement in one or both hips.
Labral tears, tears in the cartilage rim surrounding the hip socket, can cause localized pain. When bending, the torn labrum can be pinched, resulting in sharp pain, clicking, or a catching sensation within the hip. Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is a condition where extra bone growth on the hip joint’s ball or socket causes abnormal rubbing. Bending movements can lead to “impingement” of soft tissues between these bony structures, producing sharp pain deep within the joint. This pinching sensation is common when bringing the knee towards the chest.
Nerve Compression and Referred Pain
Hip pain when bending over can sometimes originate from nerve compression outside the hip joint, a phenomenon known as referred pain. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, extending from the lower back down the leg, becomes compressed or irritated. This typically causes pain radiating from the buttocks down the back of the leg, but it can also manifest as hip pain. Bending forward can increase pressure on nerve roots in the lower spine, intensifying sciatic symptoms.
Other forms of lumbar radiculopathy involve compression of nerves exiting the lower spine, leading to referred pain in the hip area. This means the pain’s source is in the back, even if felt in the hip. Piriformis syndrome is a specific condition where the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock, irritates the sciatic nerve. When the piriformis muscle spasms or tightens, it can press on the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the buttock that may extend down the leg. Bending can sometimes stretch or compress the piriformis muscle, exacerbating nerve irritation and hip discomfort.
When to Consult a Doctor
While many instances of hip pain when bending over resolve with rest and self-care, certain symptoms warrant a medical consultation. See a doctor if the pain is severe, does not improve after a couple of weeks of at-home care, or continues to worsen. Persistent hip stiffness, especially lasting more than 30 minutes after waking up, also warrants professional evaluation.
Immediate medical attention is necessary for severe hip pain that began suddenly without injury, or if accompanied by fever, chills, or changes in skin color around the hip. Seek urgent care if hip pain follows a fall or injury, if you cannot walk or put weight on the affected leg, or if you experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hip or leg. These symptoms can indicate more serious underlying conditions requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.