Hip Pain Treatment in Bloomington, MN
Hip pain that has a spinal or joint component often responds well to chiropractic care targeted at the root cause rather than the site of discomfort.
Hip Pain Treatment At A Glance
Hip pain can disrupt almost everything. Walking. Sleeping on one side. Getting in and out of a car. Climbing stairs. Sitting through a meeting without shifting every two minutes. Patients in Bloomington come to Riverview Spine with hip pain from a range of sources, including the hip joint itself, the surrounding muscles and tendons, and the lumbar spine, which often refers pain into the hip area in ways that get misread for years.
At Riverview Spine, our role with hip pain is to identify the actual source, because the right treatment for a hip joint problem looks very different from the right treatment for a lumbar-referred pattern. Chiropractic adjustments to the spine and pelvis, targeted rehabilitation exercises, and selective spinal decompression for cases with a lumbar disc contributor form the framework. Most cases respond well when the source is correctly identified and care is matched to it.
Last Reviewed By: Dr. Rod Opferkew on May 21, 2026
What Is Hip Pain?
Hip pain can come from several different structures, and the location of the pain often points toward the source.
The hip joint itself is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the femur to the pelvis. It carries load with every step and rotates through a wide range during walking, climbing, and sitting. Joint pain often presents in the groin or the front of the thigh.
The muscles around the hip, including the gluteals, the hip flexors, the deep external rotators, and the muscles of the inner and outer thigh, can all be sources of pain. Pain that runs along the outside of the hip often involves the bursa or the lateral hip muscles. Pain in the buttock can come from the gluteals, the piriformis, or referral from the spine.
The sacroiliac joints, where the pelvis meets the base of the spine, can refer pain into the buttock and the back of the hip. Lumbar spine issues, including disc problems, often send pain into the hip area along the path of the sciatic nerve or one of its contributing nerve roots.
Common Symptoms Of Hip Pain
Hip pain presents in patterns that usually point toward a specific source.
Hip joint pain typically shows up in the groin or front of the thigh, worsens with weight-bearing activities, and is often accompanied by reduced range of motion. Patients commonly report a deep ache that worsens after walking and a sense that the hip cannot rotate the way it used to.
Lateral hip pain, on the outside of the hip, often involves the gluteal tendons or the trochanteric bursa. Lying on the affected side becomes painful, and the area is tender to direct pressure.
Posterior hip pain, in the buttock, often involves the deep hip muscles, the sacroiliac joint, or referral from the lower spine. Pain that travels down the back of the leg points toward sciatic nerve involvement from the lumbar spine.
Sleep disruption is common across all sources of hip pain. Patients struggle to find a comfortable position, often resorting to pillows between the knees or sleeping on the unaffected side.
Stiffness after sitting and pain with the first few steps after rest are common patterns regardless of the specific source.
What Causes Hip Pain
Hip pain develops from a combination of joint, soft tissue, and spinal factors, often in layered combinations.
Repetitive overuse is one of the most common contributors. Years of running, walking, sitting, or sport-specific motion gradually irritate the joint surfaces, the surrounding tendons, and the muscles that control hip movement.
Postural and muscular imbalances play a quieter role. Weak glutes, tight hip flexors, and poor pelvic control change how the hip joint moves and increase the load on certain structures.
Acute injuries from falls, sports, or sudden movements can produce muscle strains, joint sprains, or labral injuries. Even when the initial injury resolves, the hip is often left mechanically altered.
Age-related changes contribute significantly to chronic hip pain. Cartilage thins over time. Tendons become less resilient. Arthritis can develop and produce gradually worsening stiffness and pain.
Lumbar spine contributors are often missed. A lower back issue, especially one involving a disc, can refer pain into the hip area for years before the spine is identified as the source.
Conditions That Can Mimic Hip Pain
Several conditions create pain in the hip area but originate elsewhere.
Lumbar spine problems, including disc injuries and lumbar radiculopathy, frequently refer pain into the buttock and hip. The pain pattern can look exactly like a hip joint problem until the spine is examined carefully.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction produces pain in the buttock and the back of the hip that often gets blamed on the hip joint or the lower back. Piriformis syndrome can mimic both hip and sciatic patterns.
Pelvic floor dysfunction, certain gynecologic conditions, and abdominal issues can produce pain that feels like a hip problem. Hernias can produce groin pain that resembles hip joint irritation.
A careful exam separates these conditions. Specific tests that load the hip joint, the sacroiliac joint, and the lumbar spine help identify the actual source.
When To Seek Urgent Care For Hip Pain
Most hip pain is safely managed with conservative care, but some signs require immediate medical attention. Seek urgent care if hip pain follows a fall or significant injury with inability to bear weight or visible deformity, comes on suddenly with fever and severe pain, is paired with loss of bowel or bladder control, severe numbness in the groin, rapidly progressing weakness in the leg, or signs of infection or fracture. Sudden severe pain warrants prompt evaluation.
What Our Patients Are Saying
How We Diagnose Hip Pain
Diagnosing hip pain at Riverview Spine begins with mapping where the pain is and where it travels. Groin pain points toward different structures than buttock pain or lateral hip pain. The history often narrows the source significantly before the physical exam begins.
The physical exam includes range of motion testing for the hip joint, specific orthopedic tests for the joint, the bursa, and the surrounding tendons, and screening of the sacroiliac joint and lumbar spine. Movement testing reveals how the hip is functioning in walking, squatting, and rotation patterns.
Neurological testing of the leg helps identify whether the lumbar spine is contributing through nerve root irritation. Palpation of the hip area, the sacroiliac joints, and the lumbar spine helps localize the pain.
X-rays of the hip or lumbar spine may be ordered when the exam suggests structural findings. The goal is identifying the true source before treatment begins.
What to Expect From Your Care at Riverview Spine
Your care at Riverview Spine begins with a detailed consultation and physical examination, followed by X-rays to give Dr. Rod a clear structural picture. From there, he builds a personalized care plan that may include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression for disc-related causes, and guidance on movement and posture. Many patients notice meaningful improvement within the first few visits. Your progress is tracked throughout, and the plan is updated as your condition responds.
How We Treat Hip Pain At Riverview Spine
Hip pain care at Riverview Spine is matched to the source. When the hip joint is the issue, care focuses on joint mechanics and surrounding muscle function. When the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint is contributing, the spine and pelvis get attention. Many cases involve more than one of these sources.
Why Early Treatment For Hip Pain Matters
Hip pain that lingers changes how a person moves. The body compensates quickly when the hip cannot do its full job, and those compensations gradually irritate the lower back, the opposite hip, the knee, and even the foot.
Early care addresses the source before those compensations set in. Hip joint issues that respond to exercise and chiropractic care early often avoid more aggressive intervention later. Lumbar contributors caught early often resolve before they progress into chronic patterns.
There is also a function factor. Walking, sitting, and exercise all get harder when hip pain becomes chronic. Acting early protects daily function and quality of life.
Meet The Team Behind Your Care
Dr. Rod Opferkew
Dr. Rod Opferkew has over 23 years of chiropractic experience and focuses on identifying the root cause of pain before building a care plan around your needs.
Serving Bloomington And The Surrounding Twin Cities Communities
Riverview Spine is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, and treats hip pain patients across Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and the surrounding south Twin Cities communities. Patients with lumbar-referred hip pain often come specifically for the spine and pelvis evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Pain
Related Conditions
Start Hip Pain Care At Riverview Spine
Hip pain that limits how you walk, sleep, and live deserves a clear answer about what is causing it. Riverview Spine evaluates the hip joint, the surrounding soft tissue, and the lumbar spine and pelvis to identify the real source. Chiropractic adjustments, targeted rehabilitation, and selective spinal decompression form a care plan matched to your case. Book an appointment to start the evaluation, or call the clinic first.