Why Do My Hips Hurt in the Morning?

Hip pain is a common problem for many adults, especially adults who are very active and older adults. While some people experience hip pain throughout the day, others notice symptoms predominantly in the morning.

With locations in Pompton Plains and Jersey City, New Jersey, Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness is a top-rated provider of hip pain treatments for patients in North Jersey. In this post, our team reviews some of the most common causes of morning hip pain and what you can do to avoid it.

Morning hip pain: Why it happens

Waking up with hip pain can set the tone for the whole day, taking a toll on your physical well-being and your ability to perform even basic activities. Pinpointing the cause of those morning symptoms is the key to finding relief. Here are seven possible culprits.

1. Lack of movement

Our joints were made for movement. In fact, regular movement keeps our joints lubricated and flexible. But when we sleep, most of us hold pretty still. That means our joints are held in one position for hours at a time, leading to muscle and joint stiffness and morning discomfort.

2. Sleep position

In addition to a relative lack of movement during sleep, the position we assume during sleep can take a toll on our hips, too. If you’re a side sleeper, you put a lot of stress and weight on your hips while you snooze. Back sleepers can have hip pain too if their lower back isn’t properly supported.

3. Unsupportive mattress

Your mattress can play a big role in hip pain and back pain, too. If your mattress is too soft or too hard, your joints won’t get the support they need while you sleep, and you can put extra strain on your muscles and joints.

4. Poor daytime posture

Posture isn’t just about standing up straight. The way you sit at work or school or just lounging at home can cause muscle strain, too. All that muscle strain can lead to hip pain in the morning and other uncomfortable symptoms, like neck or lower back pain.

5. Sciatica

The sciatic nerve exits your lower spine, and if the nerve is irritated or compressed at that point, you can wind up with dull, aching pain in your hips not just in the morning, but throughout the night, too. Sleeping positions can exacerbate hip pain, especially if you don’t provide extra support for your legs and spine.

6. Hip, leg, or lower back strain

Excessive physical activity during the day can lead to strain in your joints and the muscles that support them. While you may not feel the full effects the same day, you can feel stiff and sore the morning after.

7. Arthritis or bursitis

Like any joint, hip joints can develop inflammation leading to arthritis or bursitis. Sleeping on your side can make symptoms worse.

Preventing morning hip pain

The first step in preventing any type of hip pain is having a medical evaluation. Our team reviews your symptoms and examines your hips during your visit. We may order lab tests or diagnostic imaging, as well.

Most people benefit from a combination of medical therapies and lifestyle guidance aimed at optimizing their hip health. Our team offers therapies like acupuncture, joint injections, and osteopathic manipulative therapy to relieve painful hip symptoms. 

Lifestyle recommendations might include:

• Investing in a supportive mattress
• Posture exercises
• Change in sleep position
• Regular exercise
• Weight loss
• Hot and cold therapy

Many patients also benefit from physical therapy to strengthen their hips and relieve inflammation and irritation.

Find relief for your sore hips

Our team offers multiple therapies for morning hip pain, including physical therapy, acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation, and joint injections. To learn how we can tailor therapy to help relieve your nagging hip pain, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness today.