Hip Pain treatment in cheltenham
Effective treatment from our hip pain clinic in Cheltenham
Hip pain can be incredibly frustrating — whether it’s a sharp pinch when walking, stiffness after sitting, or a deep ache that makes running, bending or getting up from a chair uncomfortable. It can affect your routine, your confidence and even how freely you move day to day. Because hip pain can come from many different sources — joints, muscles, tendons, bursae, nerves or even the way you move — the most important step is getting a thorough assessment.
NICE‑aligned guidance supports this structured approach, emphasising early assessment, reassurance and staying active rather than relying on rest. From there, treatment follows a clear, step‑by‑step pathway built around progressive, exercise‑based rehabilitation, the core intervention recommended by NICE, to restore movement, reduce pain and rebuild strength and stability around the hip. Understanding the true cause of your pain is what allows us to create the a step-by-step plan for you, so you can move forward with clarity, confidence and the right treatment from the very start.
The 4‑Step Journey to Hip Pain Recovery
At Straight Back Physio, your recovery from hip pain is a guided, supportive process — and our HCPC registered physiotherapists are with you at every step. Each stage is designed to help you move better, feel better and steadily rebuild confidence in your hips.
- S – Settle pain and irritation: We begin by helping your hip feel calmer and movement feel easier. This first stage often includes hands‑on treatment, gentle mobility work and simple tweaks to your daily routine, easing irritation and giving you a sense of relief. As things settle, you’ll start to move with more comfort and growing confidence.
- T – Train movement: As your hip settles, we guide you through comfortable, confident movement patterns that help your hips, pelvis and lower back work together naturally. Every exercise is tailored to your current ability and progressed gradually, supporting your return to activities with ease and without the fear or hesitation that hip pain often creates.
- E – Enhance strength: Next, we build the strength and control your hips need to cope with daily life, work and sport. By gradually strengthening the muscles that support and stabilise your hips, including your glutes, core and hip rotators you’ll start to feel more capable, steady and assured in how your body moves.
- P – Protect through prevention: Finally, we help you protect the progress you’ve made and keep your hips feeling their best. You’ll build a exercise routine, develop healthy movement habits and learn how to spot and respond to the early signs of irritation or overload. This gives you a clear plan for staying active, confident and in control.
Recognised Expertise
Professor Damian Griffin OBE is one of the UK’s leading hip surgeons and a globally recognised expert in hip arthroscopy and hip‑preserving surgery. As the recommended rehabilitation physiotherapist for Professor Damian Griffin in Gloucestershire, your hip recovery is supported by trusted expertise, specialist guidance and evidence‑based care.
You’re not just following a treatment plan — you’re benefiting from the same level of specialist rehabilitation relied upon by one of the UK’s leading hip surgeons, giving you clarity, confidence and reassurance at every stage of your recovery.
I had pain in my hip that was interrupting my sleep and bothering me with simple exercise like walking. After a few sessions with Stuart, doing some regular targeted exercises and some
shockwave treatments, my hip has improved so much, I'm sleeping without it disturbing me and I'm enjoying exercising without pain. I can highly recommend the practice for expertise, knowledge and positive attitudes.
jenny sharpe - google review
types of hip pain
hip Arthritis
Hip arthritis treatment typically combines hands‑on therapy to release tightness in the hip, leg and lower‑back muscles, joint mobilisations to restore movement, and targeted techniques such as shockwave and acupuncture to help reduce inflammation.
Staying active is one of the most effective ways to maintain strength and keep the hip functioning well. Joints are designed to move — and when they don’t, the surrounding muscles weaken and stiffness builds. Physiotherapy supports this by using low‑impact, targeted exercises that ease tightness, reduce pain and gradually rebuild strength so the hip can move more freely and reliably day‑to‑day.
Healing usually happens in stages:
- Early relief in 2–4 weeks
- Meaningful improvement in 6–12 weeks
- Achieve fuller recovery over
3–6 months
hip Bursitis
If you’re feeling pain over the outside bump of your hip, you may be experiencing hip bursitis. Bursae are small, fluid‑filled sacs that cushion the bones and soft tissues around your joints, the one at the hip can become irritated by repetitive movement, posture issues or a direct knock.
Addressing it promptly helps restore normal movement patterns and reduces the risk of ongoing irritation. Treatment focuses on improving comfortable movement through joint mobilisations, easing stiffness and reducing pain so the hip can function more naturally. Shockwave therapy and acupuncture are excellent non‑invasive options for calming inflammation, promoting healing and speeding recovery.
Healing usually happens in stages:
- Early relief in 2–4 weeks
- Meaningful improvement in 6–12 weeks
- Achieve fuller recovery over
3–6 months
Hip Flexor strain
The hip flexors are a group of five muscles at the front of the hip that play a major role in almost every lower‑body movement. Whether you’re walking, climbing stairs, kicking a ball, or transitioning from sitting to standing, these muscles are working behind the scenes to keep you moving smoothly.
A strained hip flexor often feels manageable during activity, but symptoms typically worsen as the muscle cools down afterwards. Stiffness, pain at the front of the hip, and difficulty lifting the leg are common. Without proper treatment and progressive strengthening, the area can remain weak and more prone to repeated injury, making early, targeted rehabilitation especially important.
Healing usually happens in stages:
- Mild strains improve in 1–2 weeks and recover fully in 3–4 weeks
- Moderate strains take 6–8 weeks
- More severe tears may need
3–4 months for full recovery.
Hip surgery
Hip surgery is highly effective for damaged or diseased hip joints, but recovery can take time. Physiotherapy plays a key role in reducing pain, restoring mobility, improving independence with daily tasks and helping you return to a better quality of life.
We are the preferred provider of post‑operative hip rehabilitation in Cheltenham and the wider Gloucestershire area for Professor Damian Griffin OBE — a world‑renowned authority in hip arthroscopy and hip‑preserving surgery. His international teaching and lecturing reputation reflects the standard of care expected for his patients, and we’re proud to deliver the specialist rehabilitation that supports those outcomes.
Healing usually happens in stages:
- Early relief in 2–6 weeks
- Meaningful improvement in 6–12 weeks
- Achieve fuller recovery over
3–6 months
gluteal Tendonitis
Gluteal tendonitis is a common cause of pain on the outside of the hip. Tendons of the gluteal muscles attach to the bony point of the hip. They can become irritated or overloaded. It can be felt when lying on the affected side, climbing stairs, walking uphill, or standing on one leg.
Physiotherapy usually combines hands‑on techniques to ease hip tightness, targeted glut strengthening, and adjustments to walking, standing and sleeping positions to reduce tendon pressure. As pain settles, exercises progress to build stability and confidence. Shockwave or acupuncture can help stubborn cases.
Healing usually happens in stages:
- Early relief in 2–4 weeks
- Meaningful improvement in 6–12 weeks
- Fuller recovery in
3–6 months
Why Choose Us
No other local physiotherapy clinic can match our level of expertise and rehabilitation services, thanks to our extensive experience and in-house gym facilities.
We offer affordable physiotherapy in Cheltenham, providing caring, high‑quality treatment that supports your recovery without stretching your budget.
Insured
For insured clients we can either work directly with your insurance provider or offer receipts for cash-based plans, allowing you to reclaim your expenses.
Not Covered by Insurance
If you’re looking for one of specialist hip physio in your area, book an appointment at our Cheltenham clinic — no need for a physiotherapy referral from your GP.