Hip pain is especially common as we get older but it is often misdiagnosed. Careful examination is necessary to rule out causes other than an actual hip problem - for example a pinched nerve in the spine or a pelvic misalignment can cause pain in the hip area.

For patients with hip problems the symptoms will include pain, usually in the groin area, stiffness, clicking when walking, buttock pain, or the feeling that one leg is shorter than the other.

The most common cause of hip pain is Osteoarthritis. Torn cartilage around the hip socket (labrum tear) can cause a lot of hip pain in younger patients, especially common in athletes.