Online physiotherapy for hip pain
If your hip pain fits, a video appointment lets your physiotherapist ask about it, watch you stand, walk and balance, and set up exercises to do at home. It is not the right route after a fall or injury, if you cannot put weight on the leg, or if the hip is hot and swollen. Those need 999, A&E, 111 or an urgent GP.
If you’re in the Glasgow area, you can book a home visit instead of a video call.
How online physiotherapy works for hip pain
Hip pain has several possible causes, and we ask about them on video. This page covers two we see in our plans: pain on the outer side of the hip linked to the tendons and muscles there, known as gluteal tendinopathy, and hip osteoarthritis. We ask where the pain is, what brings it on, such as stairs, lying on that side or walking, and what you have already tried.
We watch how you move. You stand up from a chair, walk, climb a step if you have one and stand on one leg with support nearby. We use the Trendelenburg mirror check as a guided self-check, if it is safe for you, to see how the muscles on the outside of your hip cope with single-leg standing. It cannot confirm a cause, only a hands-on assessment can do that.
The NHS says to try gentle hip stretching exercises, and lists physiotherapy for more help with exercises and stretches. For osteoarthritis generally, NICE guidance lists therapeutic exercise as a core treatment, with weight management where appropriate and with information and support. Our hip plans are built on exercise, advice on pacing and shown-on-camera movements.
We cannot feel the hip or scan it. If your story does not fit, or you have any of the warning signs below, we will say so and point you to the right in-person care.
What the video assessment checks
- Where the hip pain is felt, whether it is on the outer side, in the groin or in the buttock, and whether it spreads down the thigh.
- What brings it on or eases it, such as walking, stairs, sitting in low chairs, lying on that side or getting out of bed.
- The Trendelenburg mirror check, done on camera as a guided self-check if it is safe, to see how your pelvis stays level on one leg.
- How you stand up, walk and balance, and how far each hip moves, compared with the other side.
- Whether the hip is stiff for a long time after waking, and how the pain affects your sleep and normal activities.
- The red flag questions listed below, including any recent fall, which we ask at the start of every appointment.
What treatment usually involves
A first plan for hip pain usually starts with advice on what to ease for now, such as positions that set it off, and a few gentle movements for the hip and thigh. We then build strengthening and walking in steps, showing each exercise on camera and changing the load at follow-ups depending on how the hip responds.
Hip pain has several causes, and the cause changes how long a plan takes. It depends on your condition; your physiotherapist will give you an estimate after your assessment. The first is a 60-minute video assessment at £40, and follow-ups are 30 minutes at £30, and we review it with you rather than booking a block in advance.
We will also talk about footwear, chairs and bed height, how to pace walking and stairs, and how to fit exercises into your day. Our hip exercise library shows the kind of exercises you may be given.
If you have had cancer in the past, tell us when you book. Our approach is to ask you to speak to your GP before we start a plan. For what a video appointment can and cannot cover, see our guide to can a physio diagnose over video.
How long recovery usually takes
We cannot give you a reliable recovery time for hip pain, because the cause matters. The NHS says to see a GP if hip pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks, if it is getting worse or keeps coming back, or if it stops you doing normal activities or affects your sleep. We review progress at each follow-up and suggest a GP review if you are not improving.
When you need to be seen in person instead
A video appointment is not the right route for the situations below, and a home visit is not a substitute for urgent care.
- Call 999 or go to A&E if you have hip pain after a fall or injury, whatever your age. NICE CKS guidance for clinicians says hip pain after a fall needs emergency referral.
- Call 999 or go to A&E if you cannot walk or put weight on your leg.
- Call 999 or go to A&E if you have tingling or loss of feeling in your hip or leg after an injury.
- Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have severe hip pain that started suddenly and you have not had a fall or injured the hip.
- If your hip is swollen and feels hot, or you have hip pain and feel generally unwell or have a high temperature: go to A&E now, or call NHS 111 straight away if you are not sure where to go. Do not drive yourself if you feel very unwell. The NHS lists these for an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111, and NICE CKS guidance for clinicians says hip pain with signs of infection or of being generally unwell needs emergency referral.
- Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if the skin around your hip has changed colour.
- See a GP if you have hip stiffness for more than 30 minutes after waking.
- We will ask you to see your GP first if you have had cancer and have new hip pain. NICE CKS guidance for clinicians says hip pain in someone with a past cancer, where a fracture is suspected, needs emergency referral, so if you also cannot put weight on the leg, call 999 or go to A&E as above.
Exercises and self-checks
Common questions
Can hip pain be assessed over video?
We can ask about your pain, watch how you stand, walk and balance, and guide you through a self-check, then give you exercises. Over video, we cannot examine the hip by hand or scan it. Some symptoms need in-person care, and we screen for them at the start of your appointment.
Do you treat gluteal tendinopathy and hip osteoarthritis?
Yes, we assess hip pain that fits either picture and build an exercise plan around it. NICE lists therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis. We cannot confirm a diagnosis by video, and we will tell you if you need a hands-on check or tests first.
I fell and my hip hurts. Should I book?
No. The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E for severe hip pain after a fall or injury, if you cannot walk or put weight on the leg, or if you have tingling or loss of feeling in the hip or leg after an injury. Once you have been checked, we can help with recovery.
When should I see a GP about hip pain?
The NHS says to see a GP if hip pain is stopping you doing normal activities or affecting your sleep, is getting worse or keeps coming back, has not improved after 2 weeks at home, or comes with stiffness for more than 30 minutes after waking.
Further reading
This information is general and not a substitute for an assessment. Don't start a new exercise programme without advice from a physiotherapist or doctor who knows your condition. If an exercise causes pain that doesn't settle, stop and seek advice.
Sources
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A 60-minute video assessment with an HCPC-registered physiotherapist is £40.
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