Hip Pain in Singapore: Common Causes and When to See a Specialist

A woman experiencing back pain while leaning on a sofa in her living room.

Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It

Hip pain can affect almost every part of your day, from the moment you get out of bed to the time you sit down after a long commute. Whether you are an active person who enjoys running or cycling, or someone who simply wants to walk comfortably without wincing, hip pain is a varied and common concern. Understanding what is causing your pain is an important first step toward finding relief.

What Does Hip Pain Feel Like?

Hip pain refers to any discomfort arising from or around the hip joint, which sits where the top of your thigh bone (femur) meets the pelvis. It can range from a dull, persistent ache to a sharp, catching sensation, and it may appear in the groin, outer hip, buttock, or upper thigh depending on the underlying cause.

Hip pain does not always feel like it is coming from the hip itself. Here are some of the ways it commonly presents:

Dull aching in the groin or front of the thigh, often worse after sitting for long periods
Sharp pinching deep in the groin when you lift your knee, climb stairs, or get in and out of a car
Stiffness in the morning or after rest, making the first few steps feel laboured
Clicking or catching sensations inside the joint during movement
Outer hip tenderness that makes lying on one side uncomfortable at night
Buttock or thigh pain that may radiate downward, sometimes confused with back or knee problems

The location of your pain offers useful clues. Groin pain often points to a problem inside the joint itself, such as impingement or arthritis. Pain on the outer side of the hip is more commonly linked to bursitis or tendon issues. Buttock pain may originate from the hip, the lower back, or both.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain can stem from structural problems inside the joint, inflammation of surrounding tissues, or issues originating elsewhere in the body.

Hip Impingement

Hip impingement, also known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together smoothly. Extra bone forms along the edges of one or both surfaces, causing them to rub against each other during movement. This friction gradually damages the cartilage lining the joint.

It is particularly common in younger, active individuals and athletes, though it can affect anyone. The hallmark symptom is a sharp, pinching pain deep in the groin, especially when bending the hip forward. Many people with hip impingement are unaware they have it for years, attributing the discomfort to muscle tightness.

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis is a condition where the smooth cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually wears away. Think of cartilage as the cushioning layer inside your joint; when it thins, bone begins to rub on bone, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

Hip osteoarthritis typically develops with age, though previous joint injuries, impingement, or structural abnormalities can accelerate the process. It tends to cause a deep, aching groin pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest, at least in the earlier stages.

Labral Tears

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket, acting like a seal that keeps the ball of the thigh bone sitting securely in place. A tear in this tissue can cause a sharp, catching or clicking sensation in the groin, along with a feeling of instability.

Labral tears often occur alongside hip impingement, as the abnormal bone contact repeatedly stresses the labrum. They can also result from sudden twisting movements or repetitive hip flexion in sports such as football, dance, or gymnastics.

Hip Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between bones and soft tissues. When they become inflamed, usually from repetitive friction or direct pressure, the result is bursitis. The most common form affecting the hip is trochanteric bursitis, which causes tenderness and aching on the outer side of the hip.

Hip bursitis is particularly common in runners and cyclists, and in people who spend long hours on their feet. The pain often worsens when climbing stairs, lying on the affected side, or rising from a chair.

Muscle Strains and Tendon Injuries

The muscles and tendons surrounding the hip work hard during everyday movement. Strains (partial tears in muscle fibres) and tendinopathy (irritation or degeneration of a tendon) are frequent causes of hip pain, particularly in active individuals.

Common sites include the hip flexors at the front of the hip, the adductors along the inner thigh, and the gluteal tendons at the back. These injuries often result from overuse, sudden increases in training load, or inadequate warm-up.

Referred Pain from the Lower Back

Not all hip pain originates in the hip. The lower back and hip share nerve pathways, which means a problem in the lumbar spine (the lower section of your back) can produce pain that feels as though it is coming from the hip or buttock. This is called referred pain.

Conditions such as a herniated disc (where the soft cushion between vertebrae bulges outward) or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) can mimic hip symptoms closely. This overlap is one reason a thorough clinical assessment is important before assuming the cause.

Summary of Common Hip Pain Causes

Condition	Typical Location of Pain	Who It Commonly Affects	Usually Requires Specialist Assessment?
Hip Impingement	Deep groin, front of hip	Active adults, younger individuals	Yes
Osteoarthritis	Groin, thigh, buttock	Adults over 50, those with prior joint issues	Yes
Labral Tear	Deep groin, occasionally buttock	Athletes, active adults	Yes
Hip Bursitis	Outer hip, lateral thigh	Runners, cyclists, those on their feet often	Often, if persistent
Muscle/Tendon Injury	Front, inner, or outer hip	Active individuals, those returning to exercise	If not improving within a few weeks
Referred Back Pain	Buttock, outer thigh, hip area	Adults with lower back history	Yes, to clarify the source

How Is the Cause of Hip Pain Diagnosed?

A diagnosis is not made from symptoms alone. Your doctor will use a combination of physical examination and imaging to build a clear picture of what is happening inside and around your hip joint.

Physical Examination

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms in detail: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, whether it affects your sleep, and how it limits your daily activities. They will then observe how you walk, assess your range of motion, and apply specific tests to the hip.

Some of these tests involve moving your leg into positions that reproduce the pain, which helps identify whether the source is inside the joint or in the surrounding soft tissues.

Imaging and Further Tests

Imaging allows your doctor to see structures that cannot be assessed by touch alone.

X-rays are usually the first step. They show the bones clearly and can reveal signs of arthritis, impingement-related bone changes, or fractures.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provides detailed images of soft tissues, including cartilage, the labrum, tendons, and bursae. It is particularly useful when a labral tear or soft tissue injury is suspected.
MR Arthrogram involves injecting a contrast dye into the joint before an MRI scan, which improves the visibility of labral tears.
Ultrasound may be used to assess tendons and bursae, and can also guide injections.

Who Is Most at Risk of Developing Hip Pain?

People who participate in repetitive sports movements, such as running, cycling, football, or martial arts, place higher demands on the hip joint over time and are more prone to impingement, labral tears, and tendon injuries.

Sedentary desk work is also a contributing factor. Sitting for extended periods tightens the hip flexors and reduces the joint’s natural range of motion. Other risk factors include:

Advancing age, which is associated with cartilage wear and osteoarthritis
Carrying excess body weight, which increases the load on the hip joint with every step
A previous hip injury or surgery
Structural abnormalities present from birth or early development
Occupations that involve prolonged standing, heavy lifting, or repetitive bending
A family history of hip arthritis or joint conditions

Can Hip Pain Get Worse If Left Untreated?

In many cases, yes. Hip pain that is ignored or managed only with rest and over-the-counter pain relief can progress, especially when the underlying cause involves structural damage.

Hip impingement causes repeated mechanical friction inside the joint. Over time, this friction damages the labrum and erodes the cartilage lining the socket. Once cartilage is lost, it does not regenerate. What begins as intermittent groin discomfort during exercise can gradually develop into persistent pain affecting daily activities, and ultimately into osteoarthritis requiring more involved treatment.

Similarly, untreated bursitis or tendinopathy can become chronic, meaning the tissue undergoes degenerative changes that make it harder to treat conservatively. Referred pain from the lower back may also worsen if the underlying spinal condition is not addressed.

Early assessment gives you access to a wider range of conservative (non-surgical) options that may help prevent the condition from progressing further.

When Hip Pain Is More Than “Just Ageing”

Pain that limits your movement, disrupts your sleep, or stops you from doing activities you enjoy is worth investigating. Accepting discomfort as inevitable can delay treatment that may improve your quality of life.

How Hip Pain Is Treated

Treatment for hip pain starts with the least invasive options and moves toward surgical intervention only when conservative approaches have not provided adequate relief or when the structural damage requires it.

Activity Modification and Lifestyle Changes

The first step is often adjusting the activities that aggravate your hip. This means identifying and temporarily reducing the specific movements or loads contributing to your symptoms, while maintaining overall fitness through lower-impact alternatives such as swimming or cycling.

For those carrying excess body weight, even a modest reduction can meaningfully decrease the load on the hip joint during daily activities.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy plays a central role in managing most hip conditions. A physiotherapist will assess your movement patterns, muscle strength, and flexibility to identify contributing factors. Treatment typically includes:

Targeted strengthening of the hip stabilisers and gluteal muscles
Stretching programmes to improve range of motion
Gait retraining to reduce abnormal loading patterns
Education on posture and activity modification

Rehabilitation is also an important component of recovery after any surgical procedure, helping to restore strength and function progressively.

Medications and Injections

Anti-inflammatory medications (such as NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help manage pain and swelling in the short term, particularly for bursitis or inflammatory conditions. They are generally used as part of a broader management plan rather than as a standalone solution.

Corticosteroid injections (a type of anti-inflammatory medication injected directly into the joint or bursa) can provide targeted relief and help reduce inflammation enough for physiotherapy to be more effective. Hyaluronic acid injections may also be considered for hip osteoarthritis to help lubricate the joint.

When Surgery May Be Considered

Surgery becomes a consideration when conservative treatment has not provided sufficient relief, when there is significant structural damage, or when the condition is likely to worsen without intervention. Common surgical options include:

Hip arthroscopy: A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions to address impingement, labral tears, and loose bodies within the joint
Total hip replacement: Replacing the damaged joint surfaces with prosthetic components, typically considered for advanced osteoarthritis
Partial resurfacing: In some cases, only the damaged surface is addressed rather than full replacement

Your specialist will discuss which approach, if any, is appropriate based on your specific condition, age, activity level, and treatment goals.

Treatment Comparison: Non-Surgical vs Surgical Approaches

Approach	What It Involves	Typical Candidates	Expected Recovery Timeline
Activity Modification	Reducing aggravating activities; switching to lower-impact exercise	Most patients as a first step	Ongoing; varies by condition
Physiotherapy	Structured exercise, manual therapy, movement retraining	Most hip conditions, especially early-stage	Weeks to months
Medications / Injections	Anti-inflammatory drugs or targeted joint injections	Inflammatory conditions, bursitis, moderate arthritis	Days to weeks for symptom relief
Hip Arthroscopy	Minimally invasive keyhole surgery inside the joint	Impingement, labral tears, early structural damage	3 to 6 months for full return to activity
Total Hip Replacement	Full replacement of the hip joint surfaces	Advanced osteoarthritis, severe joint degeneration	3 to 6 months for most daily activities

Clinical Insights

With over 20 years of experience in orthopaedic hip and knee surgery, Dr. Ambrose Yung has observed a consistent pattern among patients presenting with hip pain: many wait far longer than necessary before seeking a specialist opinion. Many arrive having attributed their symptoms to general fatigue, ageing, or a muscle problem, having managed with pain relief for months or even years.

Hip problems are not exclusive to older adults. Younger and active patients in their 30s and 40s frequently present with impingement or labral pathology, conditions that respond well to early intervention but become more complex to manage once cartilage damage has accumulated. There is also a widespread misconception that a hip problem will inevitably lead to surgery. In practice, many patients are successfully managed through physiotherapy, lifestyle adjustments, and targeted injections, provided the condition is identified before significant structural deterioration has occurred.

When to Seek Professional Help

Pain that persists for more than two to three weeks without clear improvement
Pain that wakes you from sleep or makes it difficult to find a comfortable position at night
Difficulty bearing weight on the affected leg
A catching, locking, or clicking sensation inside the joint during movement
Noticeable stiffness that limits how far you can move your hip
Pain that has progressively worsened over time
Any history of a fall, collision, or sudden injury to the hip area
Hip pain accompanied by groin swelling or fever (which warrants prompt medical attention)

If any of these apply to you, consider consulting an orthopaedic specialist, particularly if your symptoms have not responded to initial conservative measures.

Commonly Asked Questions

Is Hip Pain Normal as You Get Older?

Some degree of joint stiffness can occur with age, but pain that limits your movement or affects your daily life is not something you simply have to accept. Age-related cartilage changes do increase the risk of conditions like osteoarthritis, but many causes of hip pain are treatable regardless of age.

What Is the Difference Between Hip Impingement and Hip Arthritis?

Hip impingement occurs when abnormal bone contact causes friction inside the joint, often affecting younger, active individuals. Over time, untreated impingement can damage the cartilage and contribute to arthritis. Hip arthritis refers to the progressive loss of that cartilage itself, leading to bone-on-bone contact. Impingement is often considered an earlier-stage mechanical problem, while arthritis represents the longer-term consequence of joint deterioration. Both conditions benefit from specialist assessment.

Can Exercise Help With Hip Pain?

In many cases, yes, but the type of exercise matters. Targeted strengthening of the muscles around the hip, particularly the gluteals and hip stabilisers, can reduce strain on the joint and improve symptoms. High-impact activities that aggravate your pain may need to be temporarily modified. A physiotherapist can guide you toward movements that support your hip rather than stress it further.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Hip Surgery?

Recovery depends on the procedure. Following hip arthroscopy, many patients return to light daily activities within a few weeks, with a full return to high-impact sports typically taking 6 to 9 months. Total hip replacement generally allows patients to resume most daily activities within three months, with ongoing improvement over the following months. Your surgeon will provide a personalised recovery timeline based on your specific procedure and overall health.

Should I See a GP or a Specialist for Hip Pain?

A GP is a reasonable first point of contact for new or mild symptoms. However, if your pain is persistent, worsening, or significantly affecting your daily life, a referral to an orthopaedic specialist allows for more targeted assessment and access to imaging and specialist-led treatment options.

Next Steps

If you have been experiencing hip pain, a helpful starting point is to note your symptoms: where exactly the pain is, what makes it better or worse, whether it affects your sleep, and how long it has been present. Consider whether any of the risk factors discussed in this article apply to you, such as an active sporting lifestyle, a history of lower back problems, or age-related joint changes.

This information will help any clinician you see to assess your situation more efficiently. Seeking an early specialist opinion does not commit you to any particular treatment. In many cases, it simply opens up more conservative options and gives you a clearer picture of your hip health.

Dr. Ambrose Yung

Specialist Orthopaedic Hip & Knee Surgeon

Dr Ambrose Yung Wai Yin is a Senior Orthopaedic Hip & Knee Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in the field of orthopaedics.

Areas of Expertise:

Knee Surgery: Complex procedures like revision knee arthroplasty, partial knee replacement, and primary total knee replacement.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: Shoulder, ankle, and knee surgeries with minimal scarring and quicker recovery times.
Limb Reconstruction: Specialized in both upper and lower limb reconstruction.

Computer-guided Knee Replacement: Dr. Yung trained at the prestigious Oxford University Hospital in the UK, where he specialized in computer-guided partial and total knee replacements.

Dr. Chee Kin Ghee

Specialist Hand & Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr Chee Kin Ghee is a specialist hand surgeon with over 20 years of experience in hand and orthopaedic surgery.

His clinical expertise includes treatments for complex hand, wrist, and upper limbs injuries, wrist and finger joint replacement, minimally invasive hand and wrist surgery, and nerve compression release surgery

Dr Chee was awarded a 1-year fellowship (HMDP by MOH) & trained at world-renowned Wrightington Hospital Upper Limb Unit, UK.
He was trained in the management of complex upper limb conditions, including complex joint replacement of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, as well as modern minimally invasive upper limb surgery.

Dr. Low Mun Hon

Dr Low Mun Hon has over 20 years of experience managing trauma and orthopaedic clinical care. Prior to this, he has been in private practise as a practitioner at Singapore Sports & Orthopaedic Clinic (SSOC).

Dr. Low graduated from Monash University Medical School (Melbourne). Thereafter, he pursued his internship at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

He subsequently continued his practice of medicine at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). During this period, he was awarded the membership of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons at Glasgow in 2008 & Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery (National University of Singapore) in the same year.
Dr Low had previously worked as an orthopaedic trainee at various local teaching hospitals i.e. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KK Hospital) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Justin Lim Xuan Li

Physiotherapist

Justin is a skilled and experienced physiotherapist who specializes in the treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions (nerve, muscle and joint).

Over the years, he honed his clinical skills across all sectors of healthcare, allowing him to attain mastery of the sophisticated human body and address complex problems effectively, allowing him to successfully address complex neuro-musculoskeletal conditions at an accelerated pace.

Justin graduated from Trinity College Dublin and started his career in National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. His skills quickly gained recognition and was appointed as a clinical educator for physiotherapy students and even tasked to develop Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Subsequently, he continued his practice in community care settings such as Thye Hwa Kwan Rehabilitation Centres and Saint Andrew Community Hospital, where he focused on developing his skills for geriatric rehabilitation and improving quality of care in rehabilitation centres. He then moved on to private practice in Parkway East Hospital, specializing in post operative and outpatient rehabilitation.

Chan Jing Cheng (JC)

Physiotherapist

JC has over 12 years of experience in treating Chronic pain, Orthopaedic and Geriatric conditions.

He had worked at various Private Hospitals, Singapore General Hospital, NTUC Health Elder Care and Lions Home for the Elders.
He is passionate about solving complex musculoskeletal disorders and helping clients relief pain from trauma and illness.
He has a special interest in the Shoulder, Spine, Hip and Knee joint conditions.
He has helped thousands of clients go through rehabilitation smoothly and achieved higher satisfaction after orthopaedic surgery.

Zita Sham

Physiotherapist

Zita graduated with a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore) in 2014 and started working in Ng Teng Fong General Hospital to serve her sponsorship bond.

Later in 2015, she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy from Trinity College Dublin, which was provided in Singapore Institute of Technology.

After completion of her studies, Zita worked in the Day Rehabilitation Centre in Jurong Community Hospital for 6 years, where she focused on community rehabilitation for a variety of patients. Patients that were mainly seen consisted of post-operative, geriatric and neurological conditions.
Zita also has a passion in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy and is looking to pursue that. She is also keen to provide home-based physiotherapy to reach out to those in need of her expertise.

Joanna Lim

Hand Occupational Therapy

Joanna’s primary specialization and passion is in hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation, having more than 10 years of experience in this field.

Joanna obtained her Diploma in Occupational Therapy (Merit) from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2006. Under the MOH Health Science Scholarship, she graduated from La Trobe University, Australia, with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy (1st class Honors) the following year. Upon graduation, she worked in Changi General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital.

She has worked with hand and orthopedic surgeons in both inpatient and outpatient settings, providing quality therapy services for clients with a variety of hand and upper limb conditions, including fractures, sprains/strains, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, repetitive strain disorders and complex trauma injuries.
During her tenures at CGH and SKGH, Joanna was a Senior Occupational Therapist and held the role of Hand Therapy and Upper Limb Rehabilitation Unit Leader. She was in charge of clinical supervision and management of staff, manpower planning, and daily operations of the unit.