The hip and thigh form a powerful kinetic link between the pelvis and lower limbs, essential for walking, running, squatting, and jumping. Because of their central role in force production and shock absorption, this region is frequently affected by impingement, muscular imbalance, tendon overload, and joint degeneration. Hip and thigh pain can limit mobility, affect gait, and impair athletic performance — often with overlapping contributions from the spine and pelvis.
At the Performance Medicine Institute, we take a biomechanical and functional approach to diagnosing and treating hip and thigh conditions. Our team combines detailed physical assessments with imaging, gait analysis, diagnostic ultrasound, and movement testing. We offer manual therapy, dry needling, neuromuscular re-education, ultrasound-guided injections, regenerative medicine, and high-intensity laser therapy to accelerate healing. Common conditions we treat include:
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
FAI occurs when abnormal bone shape at the femoral head (cam) or acetabular rim (pincer) causes joint pinching during hip motion. This often leads to groin pain, stiffness, and mechanical clicking. Many hip impingement disorders and sports hernias can be treated without undergoing surgery. Our protocol, based on extensive scientific studies from our team and others, involves training the small hip stabilizer muscles that are overlooked in most rehabilitation programs, along with advanced techniques that mobilize the hip joint and prevent pain and inflammation in the hip capsule and pelvic fascia. We can quickly restore function and prevent the need from undergoing timely and expensive surgery.
Hip Labral Tear
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the hip socket, providing stability and shock absorption. Tears may result from trauma or repetitive loading and cause deep groin or lateral hip pain, often worsened by pivoting or prolonged sitting. We provide conservative and post-operative care including hip stabilization, movement correction, and adjunctive laser therapy to support labral healing.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)
GTPS is a common cause of lateral hip pain, involving tendinopathy of the gluteus medius/minimus or trochanteric bursitis. It often affects runners or individuals with pelvic or lumbar dysfunction. Treatment includes soft tissue release, tendon loading, gluteal strengthening, gait retraining, and laser therapy to reduce chronic inflammation and improve tendon healing.
Hip Flexor Strain / Tendinopathy
The iliopsoas and rectus femoris are key hip flexors often strained during sprinting, kicking, or prolonged sitting. This can cause anterior hip or groin pain and hip snapping sensations. We use myofascial therapy, eccentric loading, mobility drills, and laser therapy to resolve tendon irritation and restore performance.
Hamstring Strain / Tendinopathy
Hamstring injuries are common in athletes and can range from acute tears to chronic proximal tendinopathy. These injuries often present as posterior thigh or deep gluteal pain. Our care includes eccentric rehabilitation, sprint mechanics analysis, soft tissue mobilization, and laser therapy to facilitate recovery and tissue remodeling.
Quadriceps Strain / Contusion
Direct trauma or sudden eccentric loading can cause pain and swelling in the thigh. This is common in contact sports and may lead to muscle guarding or hematoma formation. We provide early mobility work, progressive loading, compression therapy, and laser treatment to accelerate tissue repair and reduce recovery time.
Hip Osteoarthritis
Degeneration of the hip joint cartilage can lead to stiffness, aching pain, reduced motion, and difficulty with weight-bearing activities. While severe cases may require surgery, we focus on joint preservation through hip capsule mobility work, strength training, injection therapy, and laser therapy to relieve inflammation and improve joint health.
Snapping Hip Syndrome
Characterized by an audible or palpable "snap" during hip motion, this condition can result from tendons flicking over bony structures. It may be painless or accompanied by discomfort and inflammation. Our approach includes movement retraining, soft tissue normalization, and laser therapy to calm reactive tissues.