Why Does My Hip Hurt in the Front? Understanding Hip Pain as You Age

If you’ve noticed a dull ache in the front of your hip or groin that seems to flare up when you get up from a chair, walk too long, or climb stairs — you’re not alone. Hip pain that wraps around the front of the leg is one of the most common complaints among adults over 50, and it can have a big impact on your mobility and quality of life.

At Mountain Movement Chiropractic in Spearfish, we see this type of pain often and help patients understand where it’s coming from and what to do about it.

Common Causes of Front Hip Pain

While many people assume “hip pain” comes from the side of the hip, pain that radiates to the front often tells a different story. Here are the most common culprits:

1. Hip Osteoarthritis
As we age, the protective cartilage in the hip joint can wear down, leading to stiffness and aching in the front of the hip or groin. Patients often describe it as a deep, toothache-like pain that’s worse in the morning or after sitting for long periods.

2. Hip Flexor Strain or Tightness
Your hip flexors — especially the iliopsoas muscle — help lift your leg when you walk or climb stairs. Years of sitting, bending, and repetitive movements can cause these muscles to tighten or strain, resulting in pain in the front of the hip or upper thigh.

3. Labral Tears
The labrum is a ring of cartilage around your hip socket that helps cushion and stabilize the joint. Tears here can cause catching, clicking, or sharp pain that seems deep in the front of the hip. These are more common with age or after repetitive twisting motions.

4. Hip Impingement (FAI)
Femoroacetabular impingement occurs when the ball and socket of the hip don’t fit together perfectly, causing friction and pain in the groin during movement. It often goes undiagnosed for years and worsens over time.

5. Referred Pain from the Low Back or Sacroiliac Joint
Sometimes hip pain isn’t purely from the hip. Nerves and joints in the lower back can refer pain to the front of the thigh or groin. If you’ve had back stiffness or sciatica in the past, this may be playing a role.

Why It Happens More with Age

As we get older, changes in posture, muscle balance, and joint health start to add up. The hip joint bears the weight of every step you take, so even minor misalignments or muscle imbalances can lead to wear and tear over time.

Add in decades of sitting or repetitive activity, and the surrounding muscles — especially the hip flexors — can become tight, while stabilizing muscles weaken. This combination often causes that familiar ache or pinch at the front of the hip.

What You Can Do About It

If your hip pain is interfering with your daily life, it’s worth getting it evaluated before it worsens. Chiropractic care can help by improving joint mobility, restoring muscle balance, and identifying movement patterns that are contributing to your discomfort.

At Mountain Movement Chiropractic, we take a full-body approach. We look not just at the hip joint itself but at how your spine, pelvis, and leg mechanics are affecting it. Treatments may include gentle adjustments, soft tissue work, and targeted movement exercises that help relieve tension and restore function.

When to Seek Professional Help

You should get your hip pain checked out if you experience:

• Pain that lasts more than a few weeks

• Stiffness that limits walking or bending

• Pain that wakes you at night

• Clicking, catching, or giving way in the hip

• Pain that radiates down the front of your thigh

Early care can prevent small issues from turning into larger, chronic problems.

Take the Next Step Toward Pain-Free Movement

You don’t have to live with hip pain. Whether it’s stiffness, tightness, or deep aching in the front of the hip, we’ll help you get moving again — comfortably and confidently.

📍 Mountain Movement Chiropractic – Spearfish, SD
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