Hip and groin injuries are a very common issue we treat at Far North Physio, especially among athletes in rugby league, AFL, and running.
Our Cairns physios will thoroughly assess the underlying cause of your issue and develop a targeted plan to help you return to the activities you enjoy.
Most people coming to us with hip pain fall into one of two groups.
The first is athletes and active adults dealing with sport-related injuries: groin strains, hip flexor, and hip injury after a knock on the field or during training.
The second is people with longer-term joint pain: arthritis, hip bursitis, labral injuries, and hip replacement rehab.
The hip joint carries load in almost every movement, and the muscles around it, including the adductors, glutes, and deep stabilisers, all have to work together. When one part of the system is weak or restricted, others compensate — and those compensations are usually what’s actually driving the pain.
The right treatment depends on what’s actually going on. Here are the most common presentations our Cairns physios assess and treat.
Hip flexor strains and chronic tightness are common in runners, cyclists, and athletes who do repeated hip flexion under load. We distinguish between a genuine strain and tightness referred from elsewhere in the chain, then address both the tissue and the movement pattern driving it.
Greater trochanteric bursitis causes a nagging ache on the outer hip that worsens with walking, stairs, or lying on the affected side. It responds well to manual therapy, load management, and a targeted hip strengthening program.
Labral tears can occur from acute trauma or repetitive loading and typically cause a deep, catching pain at the front of the hip. We assess the extent of the injury and determine whether physio management is appropriate or whether specialist referral is required.
Groin strains range from a mild strain that settles within a fortnight to a severe strain that needs a structured multi-week rehab program. We assess the strain grade, identify contributing factors, and build a plan with progressive loading.
Structured hip replacement rehab is a critical part of getting a good functional outcome after surgery. We work with you through the full recovery, from early weight-bearing and movement through to restoring strength, gait, and confidence in daily activity.
We follow your surgeon’s post-operative protocol and tailor the program to where you’re at. Whether you’re in the early weeks after surgery or months down the track and not progressing the way you’d hoped, we can help with post surgery physio.
Our process starts with a thorough assessment to understand what’s actually driving your symptoms. From there, we build a plan specifically for you.
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Your first appointment covers your history, movement patterns, strength, range of motion, and any contributing factors from the lower back or pelvis. We identify the root cause and give you a clear diagnosis before any treatment begins.
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Treatment is tailored to what’s driving your pain. Depending on your presentation, this may include manual therapy, soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, dry needling, taping, or nerve management. We use the techniques that are appropriate for your condition.
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You’ll leave your first visit knowing exactly what’s going on and what the path forward looks like. We explain the diagnosis in plain terms and give you a realistic timeline for recovery.
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We build you a progressive loading program to rebuild the strength and movement quality the hip and groin need, then map out clear milestones so you know exactly when you’re ready to return to work or the activities you love.
Far North Physio is a Cairns-based physiotherapy clinic with a strong background in sports physio and musculoskeletal care. Our physios bring real clinical experience to every patient, whether you’re a contact sport athlete, a recreational runner, or someone recovering from a hip replacement.
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Yes. Pain felt in the hip or groin region can be referred from the lumbar spine, the sacroiliac joint, or the hip joint itself. This is one of the most important things to differentiate in assessment because the treatment approach is completely different depending on the source. A thorough assessment at your first appointment will identify where the pain is coming from.
Hip bursitis, particularly greater trochanteric bursitis, responds well to physiotherapy in most cases. Treatment typically involves load management, soft tissue work, and a targeted hip strengthening program to reduce the compression forces on the bursa. Corticosteroid injections may be appropriate in some cases and we can advise on whether a referral is warranted.
It depends on the grade of the strain. A Grade 1 groin strain typically settles within two to four weeks with appropriate management. A Grade 2 strain takes four to eight weeks. Grade 3 injuries, where there is significant tissue disruption, can take three months or longer and require a structured rehabilitation program. Returning to sport too early without clearing return-to-sport criteria is the main reason groin strains become recurring problems.
No. You can book directly without a GP referral. Most private health extras policies cover physiotherapy. If you’ve been referred by a GP under a Chronic Condition Management Plan, you may be eligible for Medicare-rebated sessions. Contact us if you’re unsure.
Whether you want to get back to the rugby league field, return to running, or just move through your day without that nagging ache in your hip, we can help.
Book your first visit and you’ll leave with a clear diagnosis, an honest assessment of what’s going on, and a practical plan to fix it.
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