Blog · Steve Hall · 21 April 2026
Osteopathy
Hip pain, walking and osteopathy
Lateral hip pain, stiffness after sitting, and the long walk from the car park — how Steve Hall assesses hip versus back versus tendon.
Not every hip pain is “arthritis”
Lateral hip pain is often the gluteal tendons and the tissues over the greater trochanter, especially in mid-life. Deep groin pain with rotation can be the joint itself. Pain that starts in the back and wraps the hip can be lumbar. Examination is how we stop guessing.
Walking as treatment and as a test
I want people walking. Distance that steadily drops, night pain, or a limp that appeared after a fall needs a GP and possibly imaging. For irritable tendons, load management — less hill walking for a spell, then a graded return — matters. Deborah’s physio programmes are excellent for that rebuilding phase.
Hands-on care
Osteopathy can ease neighbouring stiffness in the lumbar spine and pelvis and reduce protective muscle tone. It does not reverse established osteoarthritis. It can still help some people move with less fear and less secondary back pain.
This article is general information for people considering care at Health at Hart in Hartley Wintney. It is not a diagnosis, a prescription, or a promise of outcome. If you have sudden, severe or unexplained symptoms — including chest pain, unexplained weight loss, night pain, bowel or bladder changes, or a new neurological problem — seek urgent medical advice (NHS 111 or 999). UK osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Counsellors named here are BACP-registered where stated. Always check with your GP or insurer if you are unsure whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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