Hip Pain — Biomechanical Assessment
Hip pain can sometimes be affected by the way you walk, load the legs, and move through the feet and lower limbs. A gait and biomechanical assessment may help identify whether lower limb mechanics are contributing to your symptoms.
Hip Pain and Lower Limb Mechanics
Hip pain can have several causes, but in some patients the problem is influenced by movement patterns that originate further down the limb. Altered foot mechanics, compensatory walking patterns, or limb length asymmetry can all affect the load experienced through the hip joint with each step.
Our role is to assess whether foot and lower limb mechanics may be contributing to the problem. If they are, we can provide podiatric treatment as part of a wider management approach, working alongside other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
Treatment may include gait assessment, footwear advice, orthoses where appropriate, and support as part of a multi-disciplinary plan if required.
When podiatry may be relevant
- Hip pain linked to walking, running, or activity
- One-sided hip symptoms or altered gait pattern
- Hip pain following a lower limb or foot problem
- Compensatory movement patterns from previous injury
- Recurring symptoms not fully explained by local hip assessment
Assessment & Treatment Options
We assess whether foot mechanics and gait are contributing to hip loading. Where they are, podiatric treatment may form one part of a broader management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a podiatrist look at hip pain?
Because the feet and lower limbs can influence how force moves through the hips during walking and activity. Addressing these mechanics may be one part of a broader management plan.
Can gait affect hip pain?
Yes. Abnormal movement patterns — whether from foot mechanics, compensatory strategies, or limb length differences — can increase loading through the hip joint over time.
Can orthoses help?
They may help in cases where foot mechanics are contributing to abnormal loading through the lower limb. A full assessment is needed to determine whether this applies to your situation.
Not Sure What Is Causing Your Pain?
Book an assessment with our HCPC-registered podiatrists and we will identify the cause and recommend the right treatment plan. No GP referral needed.
No GP referral needed · HCPC registered podiatrists · 4 Yorkshire clinics