You hips have to deal with the shock of impact every time your leg hits the ground while jogging. In most cases, your hips can cope with the pressure. However, a slight sprain or torn muscle anywhere in your legs or your lower back can trigger a sharp pain in the hip while jogging. The problem is deciding the cause and appropriate treatment. Always consult your doctor if the pain is serious or prolonged.
Causes
The potential causes of a sharp pain in the hip while jogging are fairly wide ranging. It may also depend on your injury history and your age and condition. For example, older people are more likely to experience complications from osteoarthritis, a gradual wearing down of the cartilage, which can trigger pain in the hip. However, causes in younger joggers include conditions such as iliotibial band syndrome, muscle strains, bruising, labral cartilage tears, muscle tendon bursitis and even fractures, according to University of Washington Medicine.
Position of Pain
The source of the pain in your hip helps to determine the cause. For example, a sharp pain in the groin area that hurts each time your foot strikes the ground could be related to a stress fracture, according to Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, writing in "Triathlete Magazine." Metzl points out that pain coming from the groin or the front of the hip tends to indicate a more serious problem than pain from the side. Other potential causes of pain in the groin side of the hip include arthritis and damage to the cartilage between the femur and the socket.
Emergencies
In some circumstances, you should go to the emergency room after a sharp hip pain. Inspect your hip for signs of bleeding, serious bruising or unusual shapes. Visit the hospital if you find any of these symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Health System. The University also recommends contacting a doctor if a week of rest and gentle rehabilitation exercises don't get rid of the hip pain. However, in many cases, a sharp pain may not result in longer-term problems or complications. At the least serious level, you may simply have tweaked a nerve or suffered a light strain.
Flexor Stretch
Light stretches before and after jogging may help your hip recover from minor injuries. The University of Sports Medicine suggests using the hip flexor stretch, an exercise that works the muscle around your hips. Kneel on the floor, but raise your uninjured leg forward and put your foot flat on the ground. You should almost be in a starting block position with your rear leg stretched out behind you. Gently rock forward onto your front leg, touching the floor with your hands to keep steady. Push your hip toward the floor and arch your back. You should feel the stretch in your hip and leg. If possible, hold the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat three times.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hip pain - All Information
- UW Washington: Rehabilitation Medicine
- Triathlete Magazine: Hip Pain: How To Know When It's Serious; Jordan D. Metzl, MD; 2005
- University of Sports Medicine: Hip Flexor Strain Rehabilitation Exercises
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteoarthritis
