Hip Pain

Hip pain may be felt in the groin, outer hip, buttock or thigh. Some symptoms come from the hip joint itself, while others involve the surrounding muscles and tendons. Pain can also be referred from the lower back.

​Common Symptoms

• Pain when walking, climbing stairs or rising from a chair.

• Aching or pinching around the hip or groin.

• Discomfort when lying on the affected side.

• Stiffness or difficulty moving the hip.

• Limping or reduced tolerance for activity.

Possible Causes

Muscle or tendon problems
Strains and tendon-related pain can affect the muscles around the hip, including the gluteal muscles.

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Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Pain around the outer hip, often involving the gluteal tendons and sometimes the nearby bursa. It may be uncomfortable to lie on the affected side.

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Osteoarthritis
Changes affecting the hip joint can contribute to pain, stiffness and reduced movement.

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Referred pain
Pain felt around the hip or buttock can sometimes originate in the lower back. Assessment helps distinguish this from a problem within the hip itself.

Knee Pain

Knee pain can make walking, squatting, climbing stairs and getting up from a chair uncomfortable. It may follow a sudden injury or develop over time.

An assessment considers the knee, your activity levels and, where relevant, movement and strength elsewhere in the leg.

Common Symptoms

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• Pain during walking, running, squatting or using stairs.

• Discomfort around or behind the kneecap.

• Stiffness or difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee.

• Swelling or tenderness.

• Catching, locking or a feeling that the knee may give way.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

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• Patellofemoral pain: Pain around or behind the kneecap, often aggravated by stairs, squatting or prolonged sitting with the knee bent.

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• Tendon-related pain: Tendons around the knee can become painful, particularly with activities involving repeated running or jumping.

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• Meniscus injuries: Injury or changes to the cartilage pads within the knee may cause pain, swelling or catching.

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• Ligament injuries: A twist, fall or sporting injury can sprain or tear the ligaments that help stabilise the knee.

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• Arthritis:
  Osteoarthritis and inflammatory forms of arthritis can cause knee pain, stiffness and swelling.

Foot and Ankle Pain

Foot and ankle pain can affect balance, walking and time spent on your feet. Symptoms may be associated with an injury, changes in activity, footwear or a condition affecting the joints, tendons or nerves.

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Common Symptoms

• Pain when walking or standing.

• Heel or arch pain, sometimes worse with the first steps after rest.

• Tenderness, swelling or stiffness.

• Difficulty pushing off through the foot.

• Tingling, numbness or burning sensations.

Possible Causes

Plantar heel pain: Often called plantar fasciitis, this involves pain associated with the strong band of tissue along the sole of the foot. Symptoms commonly occur beneath the heel and may be worse with the first steps in the morning.

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Tendon-related pain: Problems affecting the Achilles or other foot and ankle tendons can cause discomfort during walking, running or pushing off.

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Ligament sprains: Rolling or twisting the ankle can injure the ligaments that support it.

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Arthritis: Joint conditions can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the foot or ankle.

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Nerve irritation: Irritated or compressed nerves can cause burning, tingling or numbness. These symptoms should be assessed rather than assumed to be a muscle problem.