By Dr. Venkatesh Mishra, MPT (Musculoskeletal), M.Sc Osteopathy | VS Physiotherapy Osteopathy and Chiropractic Clinic, Lucknow
Last reviewed: April 2026 | 12+ years clinical experience in musculoskeletal and complex pain conditions
Hip pain is one of the most disabling musculoskeletal complaints we treat at our clinic, and one of the most frequently mismanaged. Patients often spend months on painkillers or rest, without ever addressing the root cause. Whether your pain is deep in the groin, radiating down the outer thigh, or centred at the back of the hip, the correct diagnosis and a structured, multi-modal treatment plan can make a transformative difference.
At VS Physiotherapy Osteopathy and Chiropractic Clinic in Lucknow, we bring together advanced technology and hands-on clinical expertise to treat the full spectrum of hip pain conditions — from osteoarthritis and bursitis to sciatica and post-surgical rehabilitation.
Is It Your Hip — Or Your Back?
Before any treatment begins, we need to answer a question that even many doctors get wrong: is the pain actually coming from the hip joint, or is it referred pain from the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint?
- True hip joint pain typically presents as deep groin pain, stiffness with rotation, and discomfort when getting in or out of a car
- Referred hip pain from the lower back or sciatica usually travels from the buttock down the outer thigh or leg, often accompanied by tingling or numbness
- Trochanteric bursitis causes sharp, localised pain on the outer side of the hip, often worse when lying on that side at night
Getting this distinction right from the outset determines the entire treatment pathway. Our clinical assessment is designed to identify the exact pain source before a single treatment session begins.
Common Hip Conditions We Treat in Lucknow
Hip pain does not have a single cause; and it should not have a single treatment. We regularly manage:
- Hip osteoarthritis — joint degeneration causing stiffness, deep aching, and progressive loss of movement, particularly in patients over 45
- Greater trochanteric bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sac on the outer hip, extremely common in middle-aged women and runners
- Piriformis syndrome — the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve, mimicking sciatica with deep buttock and hip pain
- Hip flexor and gluteal muscle strains — common in athletes, cyclists, and those with sedentary desk jobs
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — bony overgrowth causing pinching in the hip joint, frequent in active adults under 40
- Referred pain from the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint — often misattributed to the hip itself
- Post-operative rehabilitation — recovery after hip replacement or arthroscopy
How We Diagnose Hip Pain
At VS Physiotherapy, every patient begins with a comprehensive assessment by Dr. Venkatesh Mishra and his clinical team. We do not start treatment until we understand exactly what is driving your pain.
Our assessment includes:
- Detailed pain history — onset, aggravating factors, behaviour with rest vs activity
- Clinical movement tests: FABER, FADIR, Thomas Test, Trendelenburg assessment
- Gait analysis to identify compensatory movement patterns
- Postural and spinal screening to rule out referred sources
- Muscle strength and flexibility testing of the hip, pelvis, and lower limb
Where appropriate, we advise on relevant imaging — X-ray for joint space, MRI for soft tissue — and work with your findings rather than repeating unnecessary investigations.
Hip Pain Treatment at VS Physiotherapy, Lucknow
Our approach is multi-modal. Depending on your diagnosis, we combine the most appropriate therapies from our full range of advanced modalities — always progressing toward a lasting, functional recovery.
Super Inductive System (SIS) — A Technology Most Clinics in Lucknow Don’t Have
The Super Inductive System uses high-intensity electromagnetic fields to stimulate deep muscle contractions, reduce pain, and accelerate tissue healing at a neurological level. Unlike surface-level treatments, SIS penetrates deeply into the hip joint and surrounding musculature — without any contact with the skin.
For hip pain specifically, SIS is particularly effective for:
- Neurological pain modulation in chronic hip osteoarthritis
- Muscle re-education after hip surgery or prolonged disuse
- Reducing joint stiffness and improving mobility in patients who are too painful for hands-on treatment initially
VS Physiotherapy is among the very few clinics in Lucknow to offer the Super Inductive System — making it a genuine differentiator for patients with complex or treatment-resistant hip conditions.
PEMF Therapy
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) Therapy uses low-frequency electromagnetic pulses to stimulate cellular repair at the level of the hip joint and periarticular soft tissues. It is particularly well-suited for hip osteoarthritis and post-surgical recovery, helping to reduce joint inflammation, improve bone and cartilage metabolism, and restore circulation in poorly-vascularised tissue.
PEMF sessions are entirely non-invasive and can be used even in patients where hands-on treatment is initially limited by pain levels.
Shockwave Therapy
For tendinopathies and bursitis around the hip — including greater trochanteric bursitis and proximal hamstring tendinopathy — Shockwave Therapy is one of the most evidence-supported interventions available.
Acoustic pressure waves target the site of chronic tissue breakdown, disrupting calcific deposits, stimulating blood flow, and triggering the body’s own healing response. Patients who have struggled with trochanteric hip pain for months or years often respond exceptionally well to a course of 3–5 shockwave sessions.
Class 4 Laser Therapy
Class 4 Laser Therapy delivers focused photonic energy into the hip region to reduce inflammation, accelerate soft tissue repair, and relieve pain through photobiomodulation at the cellular level. It is painless, fast (10–15 minutes per session), and works well as a standalone treatment in acute-stage hip pain or as a complement to SIS and shockwave in chronic cases.
Cupping Therapy
Dry Cupping applied to the gluteal region, piriformis, and lateral hip musculature creates a negative pressure effect that lifts and decompresses the underlying soft tissue. For patients with deep hip tightness, piriformis syndrome, or restricted fascial mobility, cupping provides rapid relief in muscle tension and local blood flow — often making the subsequent manual therapy session significantly more effective.
Joint Mobilisation and Manual Therapy
Joint mobilisation of the hip, sacroiliac joint, and lumbar spine is central to restoring normal hip mechanics. Restricted accessory movement within the hip joint contributes to pain, compensatory loading, and long-term degeneration. Our therapists use graded mobilisation and manipulation techniques — drawn from Dr. Mishra’s training in osteopathy, chiropractic, Maitland, and Mulligan — to restore joint mobility and reduce pain.
Exercise Rehabilitation
No treatment is complete without a progressive exercise programme. Passive modalities reduce pain and inflammation, but it is targeted exercise that rebuilds strength, restores function, and prevents recurrence.
Your rehabilitation programme will be tailored to your condition and goals, and may include:
- Hip strengthening: Glute bridges, side-lying clam shells, single-leg stance progressions
- Hip flexor and piriformis stretching: To restore range and reduce nerve compression
- Core and pelvic stability training: Critical for long-term hip joint protection
- Functional movement retraining: Getting back to stairs, walking, sport, or work safely
Hip Pain Exercises to Try at Home
While professional assessment is always recommended before self-managing hip pain, these gentle exercises are safe for most presentations:
1. Supine Knee-to-Chest Stretch — Lie on your back, draw one knee gently to your chest, hold 30 seconds. Relieves gluteal tension and SI joint stiffness.
2. Seated Piriformis Stretch — Sit upright, cross one ankle over the opposite knee, gently lean forward. Hold 30 seconds each side. Targets piriformis and deep hip rotators.
3. Glute Bridge — Lie on your back, feet flat, push your hips upward and hold 3–5 seconds. Strengthens gluteus maximus and reduces anterior hip loading.
4. Side-Lying Hip Abduction — Lie on your side, slowly raise the top leg to 30–40 degrees, lower with control. Strengthens the glute medius — a muscle almost universally weak in hip pain patients.
Stop any exercise that increases your pain and consult our team before continuing.
What to Expect: Treatment Timeline
| Condition | Typical Recovery Timeline |
| Acute muscle strain / bursitis flare | 4–6 weeks |
| Piriformis syndrome / referred pain | 6–10 weeks |
| Hip osteoarthritis (conservative management) | Ongoing; significant improvement in 8–12 weeks |
| Post-hip replacement rehab | 12–16 weeks to full function |
Why Choose VS Physiotherapy for Hip Pain in Lucknow?
Dr. Venkatesh Mishra holds a Master’s in Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal), an M.Sc in Osteopathy, and a Diplomate in Osteopathic Manipulative Theory and Practice from the Osteopathic College of Ontario, Canada. He is recognised as the first qualified osteopath in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh — bringing an internationally trained, whole-body approach to every hip pain case.
Our clinic offers modalities — including the Super Inductive System and PEMF Therapy — that are simply not available at most physiotherapy centres in Lucknow. Combined with 12 years of clinical experience and a team trained in advanced manual therapy, this means patients with complex, chronic, or previously unresolved hip pain have access to a genuinely different level of care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can physiotherapy help hip osteoarthritis, or do I need surgery?
In many cases, yes — physiotherapy, PEMF, laser, and SIS can significantly reduce pain and improve function even in moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis. Surgery is not the only option, and conservative management should always be tried first.
Is the pain in my hip actually coming from my back?
Possibly. A significant proportion of patients presenting with “hip pain” have a lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint source. Our assessment is specifically designed to differentiate these. Treatment will target whichever structure is the true pain generator.
How quickly will I feel better?
Many patients experience meaningful pain relief within 3–4 sessions. Full recovery depends on the condition and its duration, but most patients are significantly improved within 6–10 weeks of consistent treatment.
Do you treat post-hip replacement patients?
Yes. We provide structured post-operative rehabilitation to restore strength, gait, and full function following total hip replacement — starting from the appropriate post-surgical phase.
Book Your Hip Pain Assessment in Lucknow
Hip pain that is left untreated does not stay the same, it typically worsens. The right diagnosis and a structured treatment plan can restore your movement, relieve your pain, and protect your hip joint long-term.
📍 VS Physiotherapy Osteopathy and Chiropractic Clinic C-18, Kalyanpur (West), Front of SRM (TATA) Motors, Tedhi Pulia Ring Road, Lucknow – 226022
📞 Call or WhatsApp: +91 70079 32170 🌐 Website: lucknowphysiotherapy.com
Explore related treatments: Super Inductive System | PEMF Therapy | Shockwave Therapy | Manual Therapy | Laser Class 4