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Hip Pain

Barrington, IL · One-on-One · Evidence-Based

Individualized hip pain treatment with Dr. Julie Roy, DPT. Hip bursitis, hip arthritis, labral tears, IT band syndrome, gluteal tendinopathy, and hip replacement rehabilitation for active adults.

Hip Pain in Active Adults

Hip pain is one of the most common complaints in active adults, particularly among those who run, play golf or tennis, practice Pilates, or maintain a regular strength training routine. The hip joint is built for both stability and mobility, and when either is compromised, the result is pain that can affect walking, sitting, sleeping, and every recreational activity in between.

At Achieve Physical Therapy in Barrington, IL, Dr. Julie Roy evaluates each hip patient one-on-one to determine whether the pain originates from the joint itself, the surrounding muscles and tendons, the bursa, the labrum, or an adjacent structure like the lumbar spine or SI joint. Treatment is directed at the source, not just the symptom.

No referral is needed. A free 20-minute injury consultation is available to discuss your hip pain before scheduling a full evaluation.

Common Hip Conditions Dr. Roy Treats

  • Hip bursitis (trochanteric bursitis)Pain on the outside of the hip, especially with lying on the affected side, climbing stairs, or prolonged walking. Often coexists with gluteal tendinopathy and responds well to load management, hip strengthening, and manual therapy.
  • Hip osteoarthritisGradual joint wear producing stiffness, groin pain, and reduced range of motion. Exercise-based physical therapy is the most effective non-surgical intervention for hip OA, strengthening the muscles that support the joint and reducing the mechanical load on worn cartilage.
  • Gluteal tendinopathyPain and weakness at the lateral hip caused by degeneration or irritation of the gluteus medius or minimus tendons. Common in runners, walkers, and active women over 40. Progressive loading programs produce better long-term outcomes than rest or cortisone injections alone.
  • Hip labral tearsDamage to the cartilage rim of the hip socket, causing deep groin pain, clicking, catching, or a feeling of the hip giving way. Many labral tears respond to conservative treatment focused on hip strengthening, motor control retraining, and activity modification.
  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)Abnormal contact between the ball and socket of the hip joint during movement, causing groin pain with deep flexion, squatting, or prolonged sitting. Treatment addresses range of motion, hip muscle balance, and movement pattern modification.
  • IT band syndrome at the hipPain at the lateral hip or thigh caused by tension and friction in the iliotibial band, common in runners, cyclists, and hikers. Treatment targets hip and gluteal strengthening, tissue mobility, and training load management rather than foam rolling the band in isolation.
  • Hip flexor strainAcute or overuse injury to the iliopsoas or rectus femoris, common in runners, kickers, and those who transition quickly into new exercise routines. Treatment includes progressive loading, manual therapy, and return-to-activity guidance.
  • Hip replacement rehabilitationPost-operative recovery after total hip arthroplasty, following surgeon-specific precautions and progressing through range of motion restoration, gluteal strengthening, gait retraining, and return to functional and recreational activities.

How Dr. Roy Evaluates Your Hip

The hip is frequently blamed for pain that originates elsewhere. Lumbar spine pathology, SI joint dysfunction, and nerve irritation can all refer pain into the hip region. The evaluation is designed to confirm the source before treatment begins.

Range of motion and impingement testing Passive and active hip range of motion in all planes, with specific provocation tests for labral involvement (FADIR, FABER), impingement, and joint irritability. Restricted internal rotation and groin pain with flexion and adduction suggest intra-articular pathology.
Strength and stability assessment Isolated testing of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, hip flexors, and deep hip rotators. Single-leg stance quality, Trendelenburg sign, and lateral step-down mechanics reveal functional deficits that drive hip pain during walking, stairs, and recreational activities.
Lumbar and SI joint screening Because the lumbar spine and SI joint can both refer pain into the hip, groin, and lateral thigh, Dr. Roy screens these regions on every hip evaluation. Ruling out spinal contributions ensures treatment is directed at the correct structure.
Why this matters: Athletico and Loop PT list "hip pain therapy" on their Barrington pages but describe a generic approach. Dr. Roy's evaluation distinguishes between a labral tear, gluteal tendinopathy, hip OA, and referred lumbar pain. These conditions require entirely different treatment strategies. The evaluation determines which one you have.

Treatment Approach

Each session combines hands-on techniques with progressive exercise, selected based on your specific hip diagnosis and recovery phase.

Joint mobilization. Restoring hip joint mobility through graded mobilization of the femoroacetabular joint and, when indicated, the lumbar spine and SI joint. Particularly important for hip osteoarthritis and post-surgical stiffness.

Dry needling. Targeting trigger points in the gluteus medius, piriformis, tensor fasciae latae, and hip flexor complex that contribute to lateral hip pain, deep buttock pain, and referred leg symptoms. Releases muscle guarding and restores activation patterns.

IASTM and cupping. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for IT band restrictions, gluteal tendon irritation, and hip flexor tightness. Cupping increases blood flow to areas of chronic tendon irritation.

Therapeutic exercise. Gluteal strengthening (especially gluteus medius), hip flexor and adductor balance, core stabilization, and functional movement retraining. For hip OA patients, a structured strengthening program is the single most impactful intervention for reducing pain and improving function.

All hip treatment is delivered within the framework of orthopedic physical therapy.

What to Expect: Timeline and Outcomes

Hip bursitis and gluteal tendinopathy Most patients see meaningful improvement within 6 to 10 visits with a progressive loading program. The key is transitioning from pain management to tendon strengthening, as tendons require load to heal. Avoiding aggravating positions (side-lying, sustained standing on one leg) accelerates recovery.
Hip osteoarthritis Exercise-based treatment produces significant improvements in pain and function. Stronger hip and leg muscles reduce the load on the arthritic joint, often enough to delay or avoid hip replacement surgery. Results build progressively and hold when the exercise program is maintained.
Hip replacement rehabilitation Most patients regain functional independence within 4 to 6 weeks and return to recreational activities within 3 to 6 months. Dr. Roy follows surgeon-specific precautions (anterior vs. posterior approach) and progresses treatment based on tissue healing and functional milestones.
About the private-pay model: Sessions are a full one-on-one hour with Dr. Roy. Treatment frequency and duration are based on your clinical needs, not insurance authorization limits. HSA and FSA are accepted, and a superbill is provided for out-of-network reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Clinical guidelines consistently recommend exercise-based physical therapy as the first-line treatment for hip osteoarthritis. Strengthening the muscles around the hip reduces mechanical stress on the joint, decreases pain, and improves walking ability. Many patients are able to delay or avoid hip replacement surgery with a well-designed exercise program.

Lateral hip pain with side-lying is a hallmark of trochanteric bursitis and gluteal tendinopathy. The weight of your upper leg compresses the irritated bursa and gluteal tendons against the greater trochanter. Sleeping with a pillow between your knees reduces compression while treatment addresses the underlying tendon and muscle dysfunction.

They often coexist. Hip bursitis is inflammation of the bursa overlying the greater trochanter. Gluteal tendinopathy is degeneration or irritation of the gluteus medius or minimus tendons that attach at the same location. Treatment for both conditions focuses on progressive gluteal strengthening and load management rather than rest or cortisone alone.

Not always. Many hip labral tears respond to conservative treatment with physical therapy. Strengthening the hip muscles, improving motor control, and modifying aggravating activities can restore pain-free function without surgery. Surgery may be considered if symptoms persist after a thorough trial of rehabilitation.

In most cases, yes. The key is modifying load and movement patterns to avoid aggravating the painful structure while maintaining overall fitness. Complete rest often leads to further deconditioning and muscle weakness, which makes the underlying problem worse. A physical therapy evaluation identifies which activities are safe, which need modification, and which to temporarily pause.

No. Illinois law allows direct access to a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy without a physician referral. You can schedule a hip evaluation or a free 20-minute injury consultation directly.

If hip pain is limiting your ability to walk, exercise, sleep, or stay active, a free 20-minute injury consultation with Dr. Julie Roy is a good place to start. No referral needed.

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Serving Barrington, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Deer Park, Inverness, and the NW suburbs.