Hip pain while jogging can put a major damper on your workout schedule. The persistent discomfort may cause swelling or result in your having to stop jogging completely for weeks or months, until the pain is resolved. An ache in your hip can result from a number of issues, ranging from arthritis to a groin pull to the degeneration of your hip joint. If it persists, consult with your doctor.
Strains
Hip abductor muscles run from the inside of your thigh to the front of your hipbone. They are involved in actively moving your thigh to the center of your body and limit and control how far out your legs move from your sides. Abductor muscles commonly become strained and lead to hip pain because they are the main tissues that support your thighs and hips while jogging. A groin pull can strain or slightly tear the muscles or the tendons that make up your hip abductors.
Causes
Muscle strains and groin pulls typically occur as a result of overuse or increasing the duration and intensity of your jogging before you're ready. Incorrect running techniques, such as twisting in a sudden, dynamic way or adding sprints to your jog, can lead to a pulled muscle. Inadequate warmup also leaves muscles unprepared for jogging. In addition to strains, arthritis is another major cause of hip pain while jogging.
Treatment
Rest is the first line of treatment when you experience hip pain. Give your muscles and tendons a break to allow them to heal naturally. However, immobility is never the proper treatment, because you can end up in worse shape when the surrounding muscles atrophy and your joints seize up. Regular activity keeps joints lubricated and strengthens surrounding muscles to better support your weakened groin area. Consider reducing the level of activity you've been doing while your hip pain subsides.
Complications
If rest, ice, stretching and proper warmups do not relieve your hip pain, you may have to consider a total hip replacement. Hip replacement techniques have improved drastically since their debut in 1960 and can provide you with a quality of life you previous enjoyed, including the ability to jog pain free. You usually can begin light jogging within three to six weeks after the surgery. On the other hand, if your hip pain is the result of repeated groin pulls, you may have to remain out of commission and resume only light exercise for months at a time.
