Front Hip Pain

Front hip pain, aka anterior hip pain, is a common problem that can affect people of all ages and activity levels.

It’s a frustrating problem that can limit your ability to walk, sit, exercise, or even sleep comfortably.

Pain in front of the hip may come on suddenly from an injury or build gradually over time from overuse or irritation.

In this guide, we’ll explore the common causes of front hip pain, how it’s diagnosed, key symptoms, and the most effective treatment options to help you get back to doing the things you love.

What Causes Front Hip Pain?

There are a number of reasons why you might experience pain in the front of your hip, so here are the most common culprits:

1. Hip Impingement Syndrome

One of the most common causes of front hip pain is Hip Impingement Syndrome, aka Femoroacetabular Impingement or FAI.

Hip impingement syndrome is a condition where the bones of the hip joint rub abnormally against each other due to structural abnormalities.

There are three types of hip impingement:

• Cam Impingement: where the femoral head is misshapen, and
• Pincer Impingement: involving excessive bone growth in the hip socket
• Mixed Impingement: where you have a combination of Cam and Pincer impingement

Over time, repetitive friction can damage the joint cartilage and labrum, leading to sharp front of hip pain during movement, particularly when bending at the waist, twisting, or sitting for long periods. FAI often affects young adults and athletes.

Find Out More: Femoroacetabular Impingement

2. Hip Labral Tear

3. Hip Osteoarthritis

The most common cause of pain in the front of the hip in people over 50 is arthritis.

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition where the cartilage that cushions the joint wears away, causing the bones to rub together. It often leads to pain at the front of the hip or groin, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and difficulty with activities like walking, dressing, or climbing stairs.

Front hip pain symptoms from arthritis are often worse in the morning or after rest, and can gradually progress over months or years. Although more common in older adults, OA can affect younger people with joint abnormalities or prior injury.

4. Hip Flexor Strain

Another possible cause of anterior hip pain, particularly in athletes is a hip flexor strain.

Your hip flexors are the muscles that help you lift your knee and bend at the hip and are crucial for walking, running, and climbing stairs. A hip flexor strain occurs when one of these muscles, such as the iliopsoas or rectus femoris, is overstretched or torn. Hip flexor strains usually occur during activities involving sudden acceleration, kicking, or overstretching.

Pain is typically sharp, located at the front of the hip or groin, and worsens with hip flexion or walking uphill. You may also feel muscle tightness or weakness.

Find Out More: Hip Flexor Strain

5. Iliopsoas Bursitis

6. Hip Flexor Tendinopathy

Hip flexor tendinopathy is a chronic overuse injury involving the hip flexor tendons, particularly the iliopsoas. It’s different from a strain as there is inflammation or degeneration in the tendon, rather than tearing in the muscle.

Hip flexor tendinopathy develops slowly over time due to repetitive movements such as running, cycling, or dancing. The pain is often a dull ache in the front of the hip or groin, made worse by activities that involve lifting the leg. There may also be tightness, weakness, and reduced hip range of motion.

7. Nerve Compression

Sometimes front hip pain isn’t coming from the hip joint itself but rather from nerve compression. The femoral nerve or lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can become compressed or irritated, leading to pain, burning, tingling, or numbness in the anterior hip and thigh. This can occur due to tight muscles, spinal issues (such as disc bulges or spinal stenosis), or prolonged pressure (e.g., from tight clothing or a heavy belt).

Nerve-related hip pain may radiate down the front of the thigh towards the knee and foot, and is often associated with pins and needles, numbness and weakness. Find Out More >

8. Femoral Hernia

Front hip pain that is accompanied by a lump or bulge is often due to a femoral hernia. 

More common in women, especially older adults, femoral hernias appear as a painful lump in the upper thigh or groin. Symptoms may include groin discomfort that worsens when standing, lifting, or straining, and in severe cases, abdominal pain and vomiting.

Symptoms of Front Hip Pain

The symptoms of anterior hip pain can vary depending on the cause, but common signs include:

• A dull ache or sharp stabbing pain in the front of the hip or groin
• Anterior hip pain that worsens with activity, especially climbing stairs, walking uphill, or running
• Hip stiffness in the morning or after sitting for long periods
• Clicking, catching, or popping sensations in the hip
• Difficulty lifting the leg or rotating the hip
• Weakness or instability in the hip and thigh
• Numbness, tingling, or burning which may extend down the leg to the foot if nerves are involved

Understanding the pattern and triggers of your symptoms can help narrow down the cause and guide treatment for your pain at front of the hip.

Diagnosing Front Hip Pain

Diagnostic tools for front of hip pain may include:

• X-rays: to check for bone abnormalities, arthritis, or impingement
• MRI scans: to evaluate soft tissue injuries like labral tears or tendinopathy
• Ultrasound: helpful for assessing muscle or bursa inflammation in real time
• CT Scans: occasionally used for detailed views of bone structure
• Nerve Conduction Studies: if nerve compression or referral from the spine is suspected

When to See a Doctor

You should seek medical advice with anterior hip pain if:

• Your pain lasts more than a few days or worsens over time
• You feel weakness, instability, or reduced hip function
• There is visible swelling or bruising
• You experience clicking, locking, or giving way
• Your front hip pain interferes with sleep, walking, or normal daily tasks
• You have symptoms of nerve involvement (numbness, tingling)

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Treatment for Front Hip Pain

Anterior hip pain treatment depends on the underlying cause but usually starts with conservative options such as:

1. Rest and Activity Modification

Avoid activities that aggravate your symptoms, such as high-impact exercise, squatting, or prolonged sitting in the early stages of front hip pain. Follow PRICE principles:

• Protect: the hip from further injury e.g. using crutches
  
  
• Rest: from aggravating activities initially but not for too long! Short rest periods can help acute flare-ups, but long-term inactivity can make things worse as the leg quickly becomes weak and tight
  
  
• Ice: Apply ice packs for 15–20 minutes several times a day in the early stages to reduce pain in front of hip and inflammation. After the acute phase, heat can help relax tight muscles and improve flexibility
  
  
• Compression: wearing a compression bandage or hip brace can help to support the joint and reduce swelling
  
  
• Elevation: keep the leg elevated on a leg cushion when lying down to reduce swelling

2. Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help control front hip pain and inflammation. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe stronger anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants.

Anti-inflammatories should not be taken for the first few days after an acute injury as they can actually slow down the healing process. Pain relievers such as paracetamol/acetaminophen can be taken immediately.

3. Physical Therapy

A tailored rehab program is often the key to long-term recovery with pain in front of the hip. A physiotherapist can guide you through:

• Stretching Exercises: Hip flexor stretches, quads stretches and ITB stretches can be really useful for reducing front hip pain and tightness
  
  
• Strengthening Exercises: Quads Strengthening, Hamstring Strengthening and Glutes Strengthening exercises help to improve the support, stability and control around the joint and are really helpful with most cases of anterior hip pain
  
  
• Manual Therapy: to improve joint mobility if there is tightness or stiffness in the joint or soft tissues
  
  
• Postural Training: and gait correction can help to address areas of muscle imbalance and ensure the forces are being transmitted properly through the hip, knee and foot

4. Injections

Corticosteroid injections can provide quick relief from inflammation in cases like hip bursitis or osteoarthritis. For labral tears or hip impingement, an ultrasound guided injection may be both diagnostic and therapeutic.

Steroid injections should be used in conjunction with rehab exercises for long term benefit, as whilst they reduce front hip pain and inflammation, they don’t treat the underlying cause.

5. Surgery

Most cases of front hip pain will respond well to conservative treatment but surgery may be necessary for hip labral repair, impingement correction, or severe osteoarthritis. Procedures may include arthroscopy, hip resurfacing, or hip replacement, depending on the condition and your activity goals.

For more specific treatment information, check out the following articles:

• Hip Impingement Treatment
• Hip Labral Tear Treatment
• Hip Bursitis Treatment
• Hip Flexor Strain Treatment

Pain In Front Of Hip FAQs

Front Hip Pain Summary

Front hip pain, whether caused by hip flexor strain, labral tears, or hip impingement, can significantly impact your mobility and quality of life.

The key to effective treatment is accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and a structured rehab program. Most cases of anterior hip pain improve with rest, targeted physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

If you are experiencing pain in the front of your hip that is not improving, don’t ignore it—early treatment can prevent long-term damage and keep you moving comfortably.

You may also be interested in the following articles:

• Pain At Top Of Thigh
• Outer Hip Pain
• Inner Thigh Pain
• Hip Bursitis
• Quads Strengthening Exercises
• Quads Stretches
• How To Improve Flexibility

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Last Updated: May 20th, 2025
Next Review Due: May 20th, 2027