When pain changes how you move.
You might be shortening your walks, avoiding a favourite exercise or struggling to get comfortable in bed. Even familiar movements can start to feel more noticeable.
Some problems begin after a minor injury or change in activity. Others develop gradually, with stiffness or discomfort becoming more noticeable over time. Understanding your symptoms and how they affect your day helps us work out where to start.
What could be causing your hip or knee pain?
Pain may come from the joint itself, the muscles or tendons around it or, in some cases, from another area such as the low back. The most appropriate treatment depends on what is contributing to your symptoms.
Joint pain & osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can cause hip or knee pain, stiffness and reduced movement. Regular exercise and building strength can help manage symptoms and make everyday activities easier.
Sports rehabilitation can help you find suitable exercises and progress them at a manageable pace. Chiropractic care may also help with joint pain and stiffness through mobilisation and soft tissue treatment alongside exercise.
Tendon-related pain
Pain on the outside of the hip may involve the gluteal tendons, while pain at the front of the knee can involve the patellar or quadriceps tendon.
Sports rehabilitation usually focuses on progressive strengthening and managing the activities that aggravate your symptoms. Shockwave therapy may also be considered for selected persistent tendon problems.
Pain around the kneecap
Pain around or behind the kneecap often becomes noticeable with stairs, squatting, running or other activities that place more demand on the knee.
Sports rehabilitation usually forms the main part of care, building hip and knee strength while gradually increasing what the knee can comfortably tolerate.
Pain referred from the low back
Pain around the hip, buttock or thigh can sometimes come from the low back rather than the hip itself.
If your assessment suggests the spine is contributing, chiropractic care may be a more appropriate starting point, using hands-on treatment, exercise and practical advice.
When an X-ray may help.
An X-ray can help assess suspected hip or knee osteoarthritis by showing changes such as narrowing of the joint space and changes in the surrounding bone. This can provide useful information when there is uncertainty about the diagnosis or a need to investigate another possible cause of pain.
​
We have digital X-ray facilities within the clinic, available as part of a chiropractic assessment when appropriate. If imaging is likely to help, we can take the X-ray here and explain the findings alongside your symptoms and examination.
Not every painful joint needs an X-ray.
Many hip and knee problems can be assessed from your symptoms and examination alone.
We recommend imaging when it is likely to add useful information or influence the next step in your care.
How we can help.
The right approach depends on what is contributing to your symptoms. We combine assessment, hands-on care, rehabilitation and practical advice in the way that best fits your hip or knee problem.
Clear assessment
We look at where you feel pain, how your hip or knee moves, strength and the activities that bring on your symptoms, checking nearby areas where relevant.
Hands-on care
Joint mobilisation, soft tissue treatment or sports massage may be used where they can help with pain or movement, usually alongside exercise and practical advice.
Strength & rehabilitation
Progressive exercise can build strength and gradually improve what your hip or knee can tolerate. Your plan can be adapted around everyday life, work, running or sport.
Review & progression
We review how your hip or knee is responding and adjust your treatment, exercises and activity as you progress.
Get help with your hip or knee pain.
You do not need to work out the cause or choose a treatment on your own.
You can book an appointment with our team at Back In Motion in Buckshaw Village, Chorley. We’ll take time to understand your symptoms, assess your hip or knee and agree the most appropriate way forward based on what you want to get back to doing.