Hip & groin injuries
Hip Pain — North Vancouver
Deep groin ache during a squat. Lateral hip pain after a long run. That catching sensation every time you get out of the car. The hip is a load-bearing joint with a lot of moving parts — we find the actual source and build a plan that gets you back to what you were doing.
What it is
Understanding your hip pain.
Hip pain is one of the more commonly misattributed complaints we see. What patients call 'hip pain' can come from the hip joint itself, the surrounding muscles and tendons, the sacroiliac joint, or even a nerve root originating in the lumbar spine. Sorting out which structure is responsible changes the treatment completely.
The most frequent culprits we treat at Medstar include femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI), hip labral tears, gluteal tendinopathy (the modern name for what used to be called greater trochanteric bursitis), hip flexor strains, groin injuries in kicking athletes, and osteoarthritic changes in the older active population.
FAI and labral pathology in particular are often under-diagnosed in active people who are told their pain is 'just tightness'. Impingement tends to produce a deep groin pinch at the end of hip flexion — sitting in a low car seat, deep squatting, or kicking. A proper clinical assessment, sometimes combined with diagnostic imaging, clarifies the picture quickly.
What to expect
Hip pain presentations vary considerably in recovery timeline. Muscle and tendon injuries — gluteal tendinopathy, hip flexor strains, groin strains — typically respond within 6–10 weeks of a structured loading program. FAI and labral pathology often take 3–5 months of progressive rehab; surgical outcomes depend heavily on post-op physiotherapy quality. Your physiotherapist will confirm a realistic timeline at your first session after a full movement and load assessment.
Get a plan
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Send us a quick note about what's going on. A physiotherapist — not a receptionist — will read it and reply with what they'd recommend. No commitment to book.
Common questions
About hip pain.
Do I need imaging before coming in?+
Not necessarily. A clinical assessment tells us a great deal without X-rays or MRI. That said, if your history or movement findings suggest a labral tear or significant structural problem, we'll recommend imaging and can point you toward the right diagnostic pathway.
Is this hip bursitis?+
What used to be diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis is now understood to be primarily a gluteal tendinopathy — a load and compression problem at the tendon, not an inflamed bursa. That distinction matters because the treatment is different: loading and compression management, not rest and anti-inflammatories. We'll tell you which pattern you have.
My hip clicks — is that a problem?+
Most hip clicking (coxa saltans) is benign — a tendon snapping over a bony prominence. It only warrants attention if it's painful or associated with giving way. If your click is painless and your hip is otherwise strong and stable, it's probably not causing your symptoms.
Can physio help if I'm waiting for a hip replacement?+
Yes, often significantly. Pre-operative physiotherapy — strengthening the muscles around a deteriorating joint — improves post-surgical outcomes and can sometimes push back the timeline for surgery. Post-operatively, physiotherapy is essential for restoring gait, strength, and return to activity.
Do you direct-bill extended health?+
Yes. We direct-bill most major extended-health plans, ICBC, and WorkSafeBC.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual presentations vary — assessment findings and treatment plans differ from person to person. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, neurological changes (numbness, weakness, bowel or bladder changes), or a significant trauma, contact your physician or emergency services. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).