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Hip Pain Physio Melbourne
Eastside Physio + Co diagnoses and treats hip pain at our Surrey Hills clinic, serving Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Every treatment plan is tailored to your goals and your diagnosis. Hip pain has a lot of causes, from the joint and the tendons around it to pain that is referred from the lower back. A physio assessment can tell these apart, so you’ll know your treatment is targeting the right structure from the start.
Common causes of hip pain
Most hip pain traces back to one of a few structures around the joint. It can start in the hip joint itself or in the tendons and bursa around it. It can also travel from the lower back and pelvis. The hip is a ball and socket joint, where the top of the thigh bone fits into the hip socket and a ring of cartilage called the labrum helps support the joint.
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Joint-related hip pain
Hip joint pain is common in active adults. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), where extra bone pinches the labrum, can cause a labral tear. Hip dysplasia, a shallow socket present from birth, and other congenital issues can leave the hip joint unstable; hip dysplasia of this kind often causes deep groin pain.
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Hip osteoarthritis
Cartilage within the hip joint gradually wears away with age, reducing the smooth surface that allows the joint to move comfortably. Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of hip pain in older adults, and it usually develops gradually with increasing stiffness and pain.
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Tendon, bursa and muscle pain
The soft tissues around the hip carry heavy load. Gluteal tendinopathy and hip bursitis cause pain on the outer hip, over the bony point called the greater trochanter. Muscle and tendon strains, including adductor problems in the groin, are common with sporting injuries.
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Bone and pelvic causes
These causes are less common, but they are important to rule out during an assessment. Hip fractures usually result from falls in older people, whereas stress fractures tend to result from repetitive loading. Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and pelvis problems can cause referred pain to the hip and buttock region. These types of fractures must be assessed promptly.
Hip pain symptoms and what they point to
Where your hip hurts often provides the first clue to what's causing it. Pain in the groin or the front of the hip usually points towards the hip joint or the hip flexors. Pain on the outside of the hip that gets worse when lying on that side or climbing stairs could suggest gluteal tendinopathy or bursitis.
Pain in the buttocks is often linked to referred pain or to issues with the sacroiliac joint. People with hip problems often report symptoms like clicking, locking, a feeling of instability, stiffness, and a pain that gets worse when sitting or engaging in physical activities.
Some hip pain will need urgent medical review and not a physio booking. You should see a GP or go to a hospital if you have hip pain after falling or if you cannot bear weight. The same urgent care applies to night pain that doesn’t ease when you change position, feeling unwell or feverish with hip pain, unexplained weight loss, or if you have a history of cancer.
Hip pain or referred back pain: how physios tell the difference
Hip pain doesn’t always come from the hip itself. It can come from the lumbar spine in your lower back, while a herniated disc or spinal stenosis can drive referred pain into the hip and make you think there is a true hip problem. Hip pain sometimes doesn't improve because the treatment is targeting the hip when the lower back is actually the source. Our assessment tests both the hip joint and the spine before any treatment starts. When the lower back is the source, our back pain treatment targets it directly.
How we treat hip pain
Treatment starts with getting an accurate diagnosis, followed by creating an exercise-based plan that targets the actual cause. Exercise has the strongest evidence behind it for most hip conditions, and that’s why your program will revolve around it. Every treatment plan starts with understanding your goals. We set your treatment options around the diagnosis and what you want to get back to. Your treatment may include:
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gait analysis and correction
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personalised exercise programs
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hands-on manual therapy
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mobility and strengthening work
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shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon pain
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massage
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pain management education
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ergonomic and desk set-up advice
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referral for imaging when it will change your treatment
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clinical Pilates for hip pain
Your physiotherapist sets the treatment plan and your likely recovery time at the first assessment. We do not promise fixed timeframes; recovery time depends on your diagnosis and how your hip responds.
Do you need a scan or surgery for hip pain?
Many hip conditions are diagnosed clinically and can be managed without the need for surgery. A scan finding like a labral tear does not automatically mean you’ll need an operation, and we refer for imaging only when it is likely to change your treatment. When your symptoms point to surgical treatment, we liaise with your GP or orthopaedic surgeon.
If hip surgery is the right option, the decision stays yours, made with your doctor. If surgery is the right option, including a hip replacement, our post-operative rehabilitation helps support your recovery. Our approach is evidence-based, and our focus is on reducing your pain and getting you moving again.
Fees, rebates and referrals for hip physiotherapy
You do not require a referral in order to make an appointment with a physiotherapist.
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Medicare rebate
To claim a Medicare rebate, you'll need a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) and a signed GP referral. Legacy CDM or EPC plans are valid until 30 June 2027. The available rebate is $63.40 (MBS item 10960, currently as of July 2026, and indexed annually).
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Bulk billing
Bulk billing is possible for those who qualify under the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. Eligibility will be confirmed when booking.
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Private health rebates
Private health rebates are available. We cater to patients covered by WorkCover, NDIS, TAC, and Home Care; please notify us at booking and bring the documents specified on our new patients page.
Clinic information
Eastside Physio + Co has treated Melbourne's eastern suburbs from our Surrey Hills clinic since 2017, with more than 6,300 clients.
Address: 427 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Phone: (03) 9836 1333
Email: info@esphysio.com.au
Referral: none needed to book. Medicare rebates need a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.
Private health: claim on the spot via HICAPS, all major insurers.
WorkCover, TAC and NDIS clients welcome.
Parking: there are three onsite parking bays at the front of the building and two at the rear. Additional street parking is available on Canterbury Road and the adjoining streets.
Book a hip pain assessment in Melbourne's eastern suburbs
Book your assessment at our Surrey Hills clinic, at 427 Canterbury Road. Call (03) 9836 1333 or book online through Nookal. Our physiotherapists assess your hip and set a plan at the first visit. We see patients from Surrey Hills, Camberwell, Box Hill, Hawthorn, Balwyn, Blackburn, Canterbury, Doncaster, Burwood, Ashburton, Ashwood and Auburn.