Hip and Leg Pain Treatment Townsville

​Home » What we treat » Hip/ Leg PainWritten by Daryl Ansell | Reviewed by Robert Foster | Last reviewed July 2026

Can Chiropractic Help Hip and Leg Pain?

Hip and leg pain can make walking, climbing stairs, sleeping, working and exercising difficult. Symptoms may begin after an injury or change in activity, or develop gradually without one obvious cause.

Although the pain may be felt in the hip, buttock, thigh, knee or lower leg, the source is not always located where the symptoms are experienced. Some problems arise from the hip or surrounding muscles and tendons, while others may be referred from the lower back, pelvis or irritated nerves.

At Ansell Chiropractic Centre in Mundingburra, we focus first on identifying the likely cause of your symptoms. We then explain whether chiropractic care may be suitable, whether exercises or rehabilitation should be included, or whether assessment by your GP, physiotherapist or another health professional would be more appropriate.

What This Page Covers

• Common hip and leg pain symptoms
• Conditions we commonly assess
• How we assess hip and leg pain
• How chiropractic care may help
• Exercise and rehabilitation
• When imaging or referral may be needed
• When to seek urgent medical care
• Why Townsville patients choose Ansell Chiropractic Centre
• Frequently asked questions

Common Hip and Leg Pain Symptoms

People seek assessment for many different types of hip and leg symptoms. These may include:

• Pain in the groin, buttock, outer hip or thigh
• Pain when walking, climbing stairs or standing from a chair
• Hip stiffness after sitting or resting
• Pain when lying on one side
• Knee or thigh pain associated with walking or exercise
• Pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg
• Tingling, numbness or burning sensations
• Weakness or reduced confidence using the leg
• Reduced hip movement
• Difficulty exercising, working or sleeping comfortably

The pattern of your symptoms provides useful information, but pain location alone does not confirm the diagnosis. For example, hip pain may be referred from the lower back, and thigh pain may arise from the hip joint, muscles, pelvis or spinal nerves.

This is why treatment should begin with an assessment rather than simply treating the area that hurts.

Common Causes of Hip and Leg Pain We Assess

Our chiropractors assess mechanical and musculoskeletal causes of hip and leg pain and screen for signs that may require medical investigation or referral.

Hip Joint Pain and Arthritis

Pain arising from the hip joint is often felt in the groin or front of the thigh. It may be accompanied by stiffness, reduced movement or difficulty walking, climbing stairs, getting out of a chair or putting on shoes and socks.

Hip osteoarthritis is one possible cause. Chiropractic treatment cannot reverse arthritis, but care may help some people improve surrounding joint movement, muscle function and comfort as part of a broader management plan.

Outer-Hip Pain

Pain over the outside of the hip may be associated with the gluteal tendons, surrounding muscles or irritated soft tissues. It may be worse when lying on the painful side, climbing stairs, walking uphill or standing on one leg.

Treatment may include reducing aggravating loads, improving hip and pelvic movement and introducing appropriate strengthening exercises.

Muscle and Tendon Injuries

Muscles and tendons around the hip, groin, thigh and calf may become painful after sport, lifting, repetitive activity or a sudden increase in exercise.

Assessment helps determine whether the symptoms are consistent with a minor strain or overload injury, or whether bruising, marked weakness, swelling or difficulty bearing weight suggests the need for further investigation.

Pain Referred From the Lower Back

Problems affecting the lower back can sometimes produce pain in the buttock, hip or thigh, even when back pain is mild or absent.

Referred pain may change with sitting, bending, standing or spinal movement. Assessing the lower back together with the hip helps determine whether the symptoms are coming from the painful area itself or being referred from elsewhere.

Sciatica and Nerve-Related Leg Pain

Sciatica describes a pattern of pain or neurological symptoms associated with irritation of the sciatic nerve or the spinal nerve roots that contribute to it.

Symptoms may include pain travelling down the leg, tingling, numbness, burning sensations or weakness. Possible causes include disc irritation, spinal arthritis or narrowing around a nerve.

Because not all leg pain is sciatica, neurological testing is an important part of the assessment.

Disc-Related Leg Pain

A spinal disc problem can sometimes irritate or compress a nearby nerve, causing pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the thigh, calf or foot.

Learn more about disc injuries, bulging discs and pinched nerves.

Sacroiliac Joint and Pelvic Pain

The sacroiliac joints connect the pelvis to the spine. Irritation or altered movement in this region may contribute to pain around the lower back, buttock, back of the hip or upper thigh.

Assessment considers the sacroiliac joints together with the lumbar spine, hip movement and surrounding muscle function.

Sports and Activity-Related Pain

Running, gym training, field sports and sudden changes in activity can overload the joints, muscles and tendons of the hip and leg.

Our assessment considers the painful area together with movement, strength, training load and contributing problems in the lower back or pelvis. Treatment may include chiropractic care, rehabilitation exercises, temporary activity modification and collaboration with a physiotherapist, sports physician or GP.

Learn more about sports chiropractic care in Townsville.

How We Assess Hip and Leg Pain

Successful treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. Hip and leg pain can originate from the hip joint, muscles, tendons, ligaments, knee, pelvis, lower back or nerves. Because several conditions can produce similar symptoms, we perform a thorough assessment before recommending care.

Your assessment may include:

• A discussion about how and when your symptoms began
• Review of your medical history and previous treatment
• Observation of your posture and walking pattern
• Assessment of hip, knee, pelvis and lower back movement
• Muscle strength and flexibility testing
• Orthopaedic testing where appropriate
• Neurological examination if nerve involvement is suspected
• Identification of any signs requiring medical referral

By assessing how your spine, pelvis and lower limbs work together, we can better determine the likely source of your symptoms and develop an appropriate management plan.

What Happens If Chiropractic Care Is Appropriate?

If your examination indicates that chiropractic care is likely to benefit your condition, we will explain:

• What we believe is contributing to your pain
• Why your symptoms have developed
• Whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate
• How long recovery may reasonably take
• What you can do at home to assist your recovery

Treatment is tailored to your individual presentation and may include chiropractic joint mobilisation or manipulation where appropriate, soft tissue techniques, movement advice, rehabilitation exercises and activity modification.

Our goal is not simply to reduce pain but to improve movement, restore function and help you return to normal daily activities as safely as possible.

Exercise and Rehabilitation

Hands-on treatment is only one part of managing hip and leg pain. For many patients, appropriate rehabilitation plays an important role in improving strength, mobility and long-term function.

Depending on your condition, your management plan may include:

• Hip mobility exercises
• Gluteal strengthening
• Core stability exercises
• Balance and walking retraining
• Gradual return-to-sport programmes
• Advice regarding work and daily activities

Exercises are selected according to your diagnosis, current ability and recovery goals. We aim to provide simple, practical programmes that can be performed confidently at home.

When Are X-rays, EOS Imaging or MRI Recommended?

Most people with uncomplicated hip or leg pain do not require immediate imaging.

Current clinical guidelines recommend imaging when the findings are likely to influence diagnosis or management rather than simply confirming age-related changes that are commonly seen in people without pain.

Imaging may be recommended when:

• A fracture or significant injury is suspected
• Symptoms follow major trauma
• Progressive neurological symptoms are present
• Severe weakness develops
• Serious underlying disease is suspected
• Symptoms fail to improve as expected
• Surgical or specialist assessment is being considered

Where appropriate we may recommend:

Digital X-rays

Digital X-rays provide information about fractures, joint alignment and arthritic changes affecting the hips, pelvis or spine.

Learn more about chiropractic X-rays.

EOS Low-Dose Imaging

EOS imaging provides standing, full-body images using substantially less radiation than conventional spinal X-rays. It can be valuable when assessing posture, pelvic alignment, leg length relationships and scoliosis.

Learn more about EOS Low-Dose Imaging.

MRI

MRI provides detailed images of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, discs and nerves and may be appropriate when significant soft tissue or nerve injury is suspected.

Learn more about when an MRI is recommended.

Working With Your GP and Other Health Professionals

Not every patient requires chiropractic treatment alone. Some conditions benefit from a team approach involving your GP, physiotherapist, sports physician, orthopaedic surgeon or exercise physiologist.

We regularly work alongside other healthcare providers to help ensure patients receive the most appropriate care for their condition.

If your assessment suggests chiropractic care is unlikely to provide the best outcome, we will explain our findings and recommend the most appropriate referral pathway.

When Should You Seek Urgent Medical Care?

Although most hip and leg pain is mechanical, some symptoms require prompt medical assessment.

Seek urgent medical attention if you develop:

• Inability to bear weight following significant trauma
• A suspected fracture or dislocation
• Severe swelling, redness or heat around a joint
• Fever associated with hip pain
• Rapidly increasing leg weakness
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Numbness around the groin or saddle region
• Unexplained weight loss with persistent pain
• Constant night pain that continues to worsen

If these symptoms are present, urgent medical assessment is recommended before chiropractic treatment.

How Chiropractic Care May Help Hip and Leg Pain

Hip and leg pain is not a single condition, so there is no one treatment that suits everyone. The most appropriate care depends on the underlying cause of your symptoms, your overall health, your activity level and your personal goals.

At Ansell Chiropractic Centre, treatment is based on the findings of your examination rather than a standard treatment programme. Our aim is to reduce pain, improve movement and help you return to everyday activities as safely and efficiently as possible.

Where appropriate, your management plan may include:

• Chiropractic joint mobilisation or spinal manipulation
• Soft tissue techniques for muscles and surrounding tissues
• Improving movement of the hip, pelvis and lower back
• Rehabilitation exercises
• Postural and ergonomic advice
• Activity modification during recovery
• Advice on returning to work, exercise and sport

Every treatment plan is individual. Some patients improve quickly, while others with more persistent or complex conditions require a longer period of rehabilitation.

Treating More Than the Painful Area

One of the most common questions patients ask is, “Why are you examining my back when my hip hurts?”

The answer is simple. The hip, pelvis, lower back and legs work together as one movement system. A problem in one area may increase stress on another.

For example:

• Reduced hip movement may increase stress on the lower back.
• Lower back problems may refer pain into the hip or thigh.
• Poor pelvic control may contribute to ongoing hip or knee pain.
• Changes in walking after an injury can overload other joints.

By assessing how these regions work together, we aim to identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms rather than focusing only on the painful area.

Helping You Stay Active

Extended periods of rest are rarely the best solution for most mechanical hip and leg conditions. While short-term activity modification may sometimes be necessary, remaining as active as your symptoms reasonably allow is usually encouraged.

As your condition improves, we may recommend a gradual return to:

• Walking
• Gym training
• Running
• Golf
• Tennis
• Bowls
• Cycling
• Everyday work and recreational activities

Progression is individual and based on your symptoms, examination findings and recovery.

Sports and Exercise Injuries

Hip and leg pain commonly affects runners, football players, golfers, gym members and other active individuals.

Sporting injuries may involve muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints or the lower back. Successful recovery often depends on identifying contributing factors rather than simply treating the painful tissue.

Our assessment considers movement patterns, strength, flexibility and training load to help determine why symptoms developed and what can be done to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Learn more about our Sports Chiropractic services in Townsville.

When Chiropractic Care May Not Be Appropriate

One of the most important parts of healthcare is recognising when another form of treatment is more appropriate.

Depending on your condition, we may recommend referral for:

• General practitioner assessment
• Medical imaging
• Physiotherapy
• Sports physician assessment
• Orthopaedic consultation
• Exercise physiology
• Emergency medical assessment where necessary

Our goal is to help you receive the right care at the right time, whether that involves chiropractic treatment or another healthcare professional.

Why Townsville Patients Choose Ansell Chiropractic Centre

Ansell Chiropractic Centre has been helping Townsville families for more than 40 years. We believe patients deserve clear explanations, thorough assessment and evidence-informed care tailored to their individual needs.

Patients choose our clinic because we provide:

• Over four decades of clinical experience
• Comprehensive examination before treatment begins
• Individual management plans rather than routine treatment schedules
• Exercise and rehabilitation advice where appropriate
• Digital X-ray and EOS imaging when clinically indicated
• Collaboration with GPs, physiotherapists and medical specialists
• A patient-centred approach without pressure for unnecessary long-term care plans

Whether your symptoms developed after sport, work, lifting, arthritis or gradually over time, our aim is to identify the likely cause and recommend the management approach most appropriate for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chiropractic help hip pain?

Chiropractic care may help some types of hip pain, particularly when symptoms are related to joints, muscles, tendons, the pelvis or referred pain from the lower back. The first step is determining the underlying cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be recommended.

Can lower back problems cause hip or leg pain?

Yes. Problems affecting the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joints may refer pain into the buttock, hip or thigh. In some cases, irritation of a spinal nerve may produce pain, tingling or numbness extending further down the leg.

Will I need an X-ray or MRI?

Not usually. Most people do not require immediate imaging. X-rays, EOS imaging or MRI are recommended only when the results are likely to influence diagnosis or treatment, or when significant injury or serious underlying pathology is suspected.

How many treatments will I need?

This depends on your diagnosis, how long symptoms have been present, the severity of the condition and your individual response to treatment. Following your assessment we will explain our findings, discuss realistic expectations and recommend an appropriate management plan.

Do you work with my GP or physiotherapist?

Yes. We regularly work alongside GPs, physiotherapists, sports physicians, orthopaedic surgeons and other healthcare providers to help ensure patients receive the most appropriate care for their condition.

When should I seek urgent medical attention?

Seek urgent medical assessment if you experience severe pain following significant trauma, inability to bear weight, progressive leg weakness, numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever associated with hip pain or any rapidly worsening symptoms.

Related Guides

If you would like to learn more about conditions commonly associated with hip and leg pain, the following guides provide additional information:

• Low Back Pain Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Disc Injuries
• Bulging Disc Guide
• Pinched Nerve
• Arthritis
• Chiropractic X-rays
• EOS Low-Dose Imaging
• When Do You Need an MRI?
• Sports Chiropractic

Trusted External Resources

• Healthdirect Australia – Hip Pain
• Better Health Channel
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

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About the Author

Daryl Ansell is the principal chiropractor and clinic director of Ansell Chiropractic Centre. He has more than 40 years of clinical experience helping Townsville patients with spinal, joint and musculoskeletal conditions. Daryl has a particular interest in evidence-informed assessment, patient education and working collaboratively with GPs, physiotherapists and medical specialists to help patients receive the most appropriate care.

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