DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with hip pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]Chiropractor for Hip Pain in Milwaukee, WI
Hip pain when you walk, sit, or lie on your side? Let’s look for what’s behind it.
Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.
Understanding hip pain
What is hip pain?
Hip pain is pain in or around your hip, the ball-and-socket joint where your thigh bone meets your pelvis. You might feel it in your groin, on the outside of your hip, or in your buttock.
Where it hurts gives clues. Pain inside the hip or groin usually points to the joint itself. Pain on the outer hip, upper thigh, or buttock usually involves muscles, tendons, ligaments, or a bursa.1
Sometimes the pain starts somewhere else. Problems in your lower back can be felt in the hip.1 That’s why a good exam looks at your back and how you walk, too.
Symptoms
Hip pain symptoms: what you may notice
Hip pain can be a deep ache, a sharp pain, or soreness that comes and goes. When it hurts, and where, helps point to the cause.1
- Outer hip
Pain on the side of the hip
Over the bony point of the hip, where a bursa can get irritated.6
- Long days
Pain after long sitting or standing
Buttock and low back pain that builds the longer you sit, stand, or walk.7
- Leg
Pain down the leg
Pain that travels down the leg may come from a pinched nerve, such as sciatica.1
Pain that runs from your buttock down your leg? See sciatica, including piriformis syndrome.
Get emergency care if you hurt your hip and:
- You can’t put weight on that leg2
- You can’t move your leg or hip2
- Your hip looks out of place, or your leg looks shorter than usual2
- You have intense pain or sudden swelling2
Get care right away for hip pain with:
- Fever, chills, or a change in skin color on that leg2
See a provider soon if:
Causes
What causes hip pain?
Your hips carry your weight through every step, stair, and turn. Common causes include:1
Osteoarthritis
Bursitis
Tendinitis
Labral tears
Sprains
SI joint irritation (sacroiliitis)
Pinched nerves, such as sciatica
Pain from the lower back
Hip fractures
Pain in your lower back too? See lower back pain. Knee pain on the same side? See knee pain. Hurt in a crash? See car accident injuries.
What can raise your risk
Age
Arthritis becomes more common with age. Nearly half of U.S. adults 65 and older have it.3
Being a woman, in midlife or later
Hip bursitis is more common in women and in middle-aged and older adults.6
Overuse and how you move
Repeated activity, a tight IT band, uneven leg length, and spine problems can all strain the outer hip.6
Pregnancy
Looser joints and extra weight during pregnancy put stress on the SI joints.7
Hurt your hip on the job? We accept workers’ compensation.
Local risks
Falls, hips, and older adults in Wisconsin
In 2023, Wisconsin had the highest rate of fall deaths among adults 65 and older of any state.5
Strong, steady hips are part of staying on your feet. Caring for an older parent, or staying active yourself? See chiropractic care for seniors.
Where it hurts
Where is your hip pain coming from?
Where you feel hip pain is one of the best clues to what’s behind it. Use this guide as a starting point, not a diagnosis.1
Pain when you sleep on your side often points to the outer hip.6 Your exam helps sort out the rest.
| Where it hurts | Often comes from | What you may notice | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groin or front of the hip | The hip joint itself, such as arthritis or a labral tear1 | Pain inside the hip or in the groin.1 | This page |
| Outer hip | Bursitis or irritated tendons on the side of the hip1,6 | Pain at the bony point of the hip. Worse lying on that side, rising from a chair, or on stairs.6 | This page |
| Back of the hip or buttock | The SI joint (sacroiliitis) or the lower back1,7 | Buttock and low back pain. Worse with long sitting or standing, stairs, or running.7 | Lower back pain |
| Buttock pain that runs down the leg | A pinched nerve, such as sciatica1 | Pain, tingling, or numbness that travels down the back of the leg. | Sciatica |
Your care
How chiropractic care helps hip pain
Your chiropractor for hip pain starts by listening: when it started, what makes it worse, and how you sit, sleep, and move. Then your doctor checks your hips, lower back, and the way you walk. X-rays are taken only if your exam calls for them.
If anything needs medical care first, your doctor will tell you and help you get it. Your doctor then explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.
Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your hip, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.
What the research says about hip arthritis
Leading U.S. arthritis guidelines strongly recommend exercise for hip arthritis.8 Hands-on care isn’t among their strong recommendations, so exercise stays at the center of your care.
What the research says about outer hip pain
One trial included 204 people with painful outer hip tendons. At eight weeks, education plus exercise worked better than a steroid shot or waiting it out.9
What your care may include
Good to know
If you don’t want an adjustment
Say so, and your doctor won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other options. You choose your care.
Hands-on
Chiropractic adjustments
Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to stiff joints in the hip, pelvis, and lower back.
Gentle option
Gentle joint movement
Slow, controlled movements help a stiff hip move more easily when a full adjustment isn’t the right fit.
Rehab
Hip strengthening and balance
Guided exercises build the muscles around your hip and help you feel steadier on your feet.
Select clinics
Physical therapy
Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.
Select clinics
Massage therapy
Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.
Every day
Sitting and sleep tips
Practical tips for how you sit, sleep, and get up from a chair help ease strain between visits.
Every patient
A plan you understand
Your doctor explains what they found in plain language, so you know what’s going on and what you can do between visits.
Recovery
How long does hip pain last?
It depends on the cause. In one trial of outer hip tendon pain, most people who did education plus exercise reported success within eight weeks. Most still did a year later.9
Arthritis is a long-term condition, but exercise is strongly recommended to help you stay active.8 See a provider if mild hip pain doesn’t ease with rest and self-care.2
77%
of people with outer hip tendon pain reported success after eight weeks of education plus exercise, in a 2018 trial.9
Free foot scan
See how your feet carry you
Your hips carry you with every step, so your doctor may look at how your feet meet the ground.
A quick digital Foot Levelers scan shows your arches and how your weight is spread across each foot. There’s no obligation to buy orthotics. Your doctor walks you through what the scan shows.
Free at every clinic
Free foot scan
Available at all 20+ clinics. Custom orthotics are made by Foot Levelers if you and your doctor decide they’re a fit.
Request a free foot scan About custom orthotics
Insurance and your first visit
Care that fits your coverage
We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.
New-patient special
visit
$29*
Firstvisit
With insurance
In-network with most insurance companies
- Most commercial plans
- Medicare
- Auto accident claims
- Workers’ compensation
Your first visit
What to expect at your first visit
Share your story
Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.
Get a thorough exam
Your doctor checks how your hips and lower back move, how you walk, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your legs. X-rays are taken if needed.
Talk through your options
Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.
Begin care at your next visit
Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.
Your care team
Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat hip pain
Our chiropractors care for hip pain every week. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with hip pain.
DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with hip pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with hip pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]
Why Milwaukee trusts us
Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982
Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.
400,000+
Patients cared for
1,400+
Five-star Google reviews
20+
Neighborhood clinics
1982
Serving Greater Milwaukee since
- Best of MilwaukeeRecognized 13 years
- Top Choice AwardsRecognized 7 years
- UWM AthleticsOfficial chiropractors since 2019
Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about hip pain
Many patients find chiropractic care helps them move more comfortably. Your doctor checks your hips, lower back, and the way you walk to look for what’s behind your pain. Care pairs hands-on care with exercise, which guidelines strongly recommend for hip arthritis.
Where it hurts gives clues. Pain in the groin or inside the hip often points to the hip joint. Outer hip pain usually involves tendons or a bursa. Buttock pain can start in the SI joint or lower back. Your exam helps sort it out.
Outer hip pain at night is common with hip bursitis. The pain often gets worse when you lie on the sore hip. It’s more common in women and in middle-aged and older adults.
Getting up from a chair often bothers hip bursitis. Sitting for a long time can also bring on SI joint pain, which you feel in the buttock and lower back. Your doctor can suggest ways to sit and move with less strain.
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions a joint. Hip bursitis is irritation of the bursa on the outer hip. It causes pain at the bony point of the hip that can be worse at night.
Your sacroiliac (SI) joints connect your lower spine to your pelvis. When they’re irritated, you may feel pain in your buttock and lower back, and sometimes your groin or leg. Long sitting or standing, stairs, and running can make it worse.
Yes. Leading U.S. arthritis guidelines strongly recommend exercise for hip arthritis. They also strongly recommend tai chi, weight loss for people who are overweight, and a cane when walking is hard.
Not always. Sciatica is pain from a pinched nerve that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg. Hip joint pain is usually felt in the groin or inside the hip. Our sciatica page covers leg pain and piriformis syndrome.
After a fall or injury, get emergency care if you can’t put weight on your leg or move your hip. The same goes if your leg looks out of place or shorter. These can be signs of a broken hip. Fever or chills with hip pain also needs care right away.
Not always. Your doctor decides based on your history, your symptoms, and your exam. When needed, X-rays are taken right in the clinic. If you already had imaging elsewhere, bring the report.
Tell your doctor and they won’t adjust you. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other ways to care for hip pain. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.
Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.
Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.
Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.
Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for hip pain. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you
Find hip pain care near you: 20+ locations
Every clinic offers chiropractic care for hip pain, close to home or work.
Milwaukee
- Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee East2332 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211(414) 223-4550 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee North10855 W Park Place #9
Milwaukee, WI 53224(414) 359-0300 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee Third Ward140 S 1st St #101
Milwaukee, WI 53204(414) 271-1717
North
- Chiropractic Company of Shorewood3510 N Oakland Ave #201
Shorewood, WI 53211(414) 962-0700 - Chiropractic Company of Glendale5306 N Port Washington Rd
Glendale, WI 53217(414) 332-0859 - Chiropractic Company of Mequon11129 N Wauwatosa Rd
Mequon, WI 53097(414) 354-5377 - Chiropractic Company of CedarburgW57N14280 Doerr Way #101
Cedarburg, WI 53012(262) 377-3240 - Chiropractic Company of Grafton1664 7th Ave
Grafton, WI 53024(262) 377-2400 - Chiropractic Company of GermantownW164N11269 Squire Dr
Germantown, WI 53022(262) 250-1948
West
- Chiropractic Company of Brookfield1905 N Calhoun Rd #115
Brookfield, WI 53005(262) 782-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Menomonee FallsPhysical therapyN96 W18743 County Line Rd
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051(262) 253-6779 - Chiropractic Company of WaukeshaPhysical therapy161 W Sunset Dr
Waukesha, WI 53189(262) 549-0606 - Chiropractic Company of OconomowocMassage1300 N Summit Ave #201
Oconomowoc, WI 53066(262) 244-5004 - Chiropractic Company of New Berlin12414 W National Ave
New Berlin, WI 53151(262) 785-1344
South and southwest
- Chiropractic Company of West Allis2255 S 108th St
West Allis, WI 53227(414) 327-6767 - Chiropractic Company of West Allis NorthPhysical therapy10025 W Greenfield Ave #100
West Allis, WI 53214(414) 258-9777 - Chiropractic Company of Greenfield4600 W Loomis Rd #110
Greenfield, WI 53220(414) 321-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Hales CornersMassage6278 S 108th St
Hales Corners, WI 53130(414) 327-6400 - Chiropractic Company of Franklin10068 W Loomis Rd
Franklin, WI 53132(414) 525-9895 - Chiropractic Company of MuskegoW189S7773 Racine Avenue
Muskego, WI 53150(262) 679-2060 - Chiropractic Company of Cudahy3552 E Barnard Ave
Cudahy, WI 53110(414) 482-1776
Start today
Hip pain shouldn't keep you from doing what you love.
Let a doctor close to home listen, look for what's behind your hip pain, and talk through care that fits your life.
More life in every day.
Keep reading
Learn more about hip pain
Related conditions
Related services
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy (Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, West Allis North)
- Massage therapy (Hales Corners, Oconomowoc)
- Chiropractic care for seniors
Sources
- Mayo Clinic. Hip pain: Causes.
- Mayo Clinic. Hip pain: When to see a doctor.
- Fallon EA, Boring MA, Foster AL, et al. Prevalence of diagnosed arthritis — United States, 2019–2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023;72(41):1101–1107.
- GBD 2021 Osteoarthritis Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of osteoarthritis, 1990–2020 and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2023;5(9):e508–e522.
- Garnett MF, Weeks JD, Zehner AM. Unintentional fall deaths in adults age 65 and older: United States, 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no. 532. National Center for Health Statistics; 2025.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hip bursitis (OrthoInfo).
- Mayo Clinic. Sacroiliitis: Symptoms and causes.
- Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2020;72(2):220–233.
- Mellor R, Bennell K, Grimaldi A, et al. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2018;361:k1662.