Stiff Hips: 11 Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, And More - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat You Need to Know About Stiff Hips

Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on April 24, 2020

Causes
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention

Overview

Your hip joint helps you move from a sitting position to a standing, walking, running, or jumping position. These activities are difficult, if not impossible, with a stiff hip. Each step or movement can trigger severe pain.

While some stiff hip symptoms may be temporary, others may result in long-term discomfort if left untreated. Knowing when to seek medical care can mean the difference between daily discomfort and pain-free activities.

What causes stiff hips?

Stiff hips may be the result of a short-term injury or part of a chronic, debilitating condition.

One type of injury that can occur is a labral tear. The labrum is a type of cartilage, and it covers the hip socket.

You also may experience hip stiffness after exercising due to tight hip flexor muscles. The flexor muscles are a collection of muscles that help you lift your knees while bending at the waist. Tight flexor muscles are usually a temporary condition.

Other chronic conditions associated with hip stiffness include:

ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the spine
juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
osteoarthritis (OA)
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
certain types of bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around your joints), such as inflammatory bursitis and trochanteric bursitis
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a condition that cuts off blood supply to the top of the femur
Lyme disease
tendinitis
avascular necrosis of the hip

A hip fracture or dislocated hip joint won’t cause hip stiffness, but they are considered medical emergencies. You should seek immediate medical treatment if you’re in intense pain and you suspect you’ve fractured or dislocated your hip.

What are the symptoms of stiff hips?

Hip stiffness is the feeling that your hip joint doesn’t move as easily as it once did, and it’s generally painful. You may feel as if your hip is clicking or popping as you move.

Your range of motion may also be affected. Sometimes hip stiffness may make you move more slowly than you used to.

When should I seek medical help?

Seek immediate medical treatment if you have the following symptoms:

chills
fever
feeling faint or lightheaded
severe pain, especially in the upper thigh or groin, that worsens when you attempt to lift your leg up or rotate it outward
sudden skin rash or redness around the hip
visible changes to the hip joint, such as a hip deformity

You should seek urgent medical attention if you continue to experience hip pain or have difficulty moving the hip joint, even in the absence of a known injury.

The sudden inability to bear weight without severe hip pain or instability is also cause for major concern.

How are stiff hips diagnosed?

Your doctor may diagnose a stiff hip by taking your medical history, performing a physical examination, and taking imaging scans.

Your medical history involves the following:

any medical conditions you’ve been diagnosed with
any recent falls or injuries
a detailed description of your hip stiffness
a review of other symptoms

During a physical examination, your doctor will perform the following actions:

look at the skin surrounding the hip
touch the joint to determine tender areas and the range of motion of your hips
examine you for any difficulties or deformities while you walk

Imaging studies may include an X-ray or MRI scan.

How are stiff hips treated?

Treatment for a stiff hip depends on the underlying cause.

Arthritis of the hip is typically treated with anti-inflammatory pain medications and physical therapy. Your doctor may also recommend total hip arthroplasty.

Examples of at-home treatments for a stiff hip include:

applying heat or ice to the affected hip with a covering to prevent burns or frostbite
performing physical or occupational therapy exercises at home to improve mobility
resting the affected or painful hip joint
stretching the hip muscles to reduce tension
taking anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), which can also alleviate the pain

Your doctor may prescribe stronger medications if these treatments aren’t enough to relieve hip stiffness. These include prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), painkillers, and steroids to reduce inflammation.

Cortisone shots are also available to relieve hip stiffness.

Ultimately, hip stiffness due to injury or OA may require surgery. This includes a total hip replacement, which involves removing the damaged hip portion and replacing it with an artificial hip joint. Surgery is almost always considered a treatment of last resort.

3 Yoga Poses for Tight Hips

How can stiff hips be prevented?

Hip stiffness isn’t always preventable. However, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the stress and strain placed on your hips. Warming up, stretching, and cooling down properly when exercising can help prevent a stiff hip.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Arthritisand diseases that affect the hip. (n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/where-it-hurts/hip-pain/causes/hip-joint-pain.php
Arthritisof the hip. (n.d.).https://www.ortho.wustl.edu/content/Patient-Care/3207/Services/Hip-Knee/Adult-Reconstruction-and-Hip-Preservation-Overview/Arthritis-of-the-Hip.aspx
Inflammatoryarthritis of the hip. (2014).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/inflammatory-arthritis-of-the-hip
Osteoarthritis.(n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritisof the hip. (2014).https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-hip

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Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on April 24, 2020

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