Hip Pain?
It Often Starts
In Your Spine.
Chiropractic & Physio-Led · Pelvic Focus · 5 Clinics
Hip pain is one of the most misunderstood presentations we see. What feels like a hip problem often originates in the pelvis, lumbar spine or sacroiliac joint — areas our chiropractors assess every day. Working alongside our physiotherapists for strengthening and rehabilitation, WYLD offers a complete approach to hip pain across 5 Auckland clinics.
Your Hip.
Your Pelvis.
Connected.
The hip joint sits directly below the pelvis and lumbar spine — and its function is inseparable from pelvic alignment. A tilted pelvis, a restricted sacroiliac joint or lumbar stiffness can all produce pain that feels like it's coming from the hip itself.
Our chiropractors assess pelvic alignment, sacroiliac joint function and lumbar spine mechanics to identify the spinal and pelvic contributors to your hip pain. Through adjustment and mobilisation, chiropractic care aims to restore the mechanical environment that allows your hip to function without excessive load. Many patients are surprised by how much of their hip pain traces back to the pelvis and spine.
At WYLD, chiropractic pelvic assessment works alongside physiotherapy for hip strengthening and rehabilitation, and massage therapy for muscular release of the gluteals, hip flexors and piriformis — all under one roof.
Book a Chiropractic AssessmentWhy Does Hip Pain Happen?
The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint surrounded by powerful muscles, bursae and ligaments. These are the most common presentations we see.
Trochanteric Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa on the outside of the hip — producing a deep, aching pain that worsens with lying on the affected side, stairs and prolonged walking. Often driven by gluteal weakness, pelvic imbalance or ITB tightness. Our chiropractors assess the pelvis while our physiotherapists strengthen the glutes.
SI Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joint connects the spine to the pelvis. When this joint is restricted or inflamed, it produces deep pain in the buttock that can mimic hip pain. This is one of the most common findings our chiropractors identify — and one of the most responsive to chiropractic adjustment.
Labral Tears
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that deepens the hip socket. Tears from sport, repetitive loading or degeneration produce clicking, catching and deep groin pain. Assessment involves specific clinical tests, and imaging (MRI) may be recommended. Physiotherapy rehabilitation is often the first approach.
Hip Osteoarthritis
Gradual wearing of the hip joint cartilage — producing stiffness, reduced range of motion and a deep ache in the groin, buttock or thigh. Exercise and movement remain the primary management strategy. Our physiotherapists provide structured exercise programmes while our chiropractors support pelvic and lumbar function.
Gluteal & Hip Flexor Tightness
Prolonged sitting weakens the glutes and shortens the hip flexors — creating a muscular imbalance that changes how the hip and pelvis load. This is one of the most common contributors to hip discomfort in desk workers. Massage therapy, chiropractic and targeted physiotherapy exercises all play a role.
Sports & Injury
Hip flexor strains, groin pulls, adductor tears and hip impingement from sport. Falls onto the hip — particularly in older adults — require immediate assessment. If your hip pain resulted from an injury, ACC may subsidise your chiropractic and physiotherapy care at WYLD.
Chiro, Physio &
Massage. Together.
Hip pain responds best when you address both the joint itself and the biomechanical chain around it. At WYLD, our chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists coordinate your care.
Physiotherapy — Gluteal strengthening, hip mobility restoration, progressive loading and functional rehabilitation. Essential for bursitis, osteoarthritis and post-surgical recovery. Our physiotherapists design programmes specific to your hip presentation.
Massage Therapy — The muscles around the hip — gluteals, piriformis, hip flexors, TFL and ITB — often become tight and guarded with hip pain. Deep tissue massage can release this tension, improve range of motion and support recovery between chiropractic and physio sessions.
Acupuncture — Our acupuncturists commonly work with patients presenting with chronic hip pain and inflammatory conditions such as bursitis. Acupuncture may support pain modulation and local circulation alongside chiropractic and physiotherapy.
What to Expect
A thorough assessment of your hip, pelvis and lumbar spine — because hip pain rarely acts alone.
History & Symptoms
Your practitioner takes a detailed history — when the pain started, what aggravates it, your activity levels, sleep position, and any previous hip injuries or imaging.
Pelvic Assessment
A hands-on examination including range of motion testing, orthopaedic tests, neurological screening and spinal palpation to identify areas of restricted movement.
Clinical Findings
Your practitioner explains what they've found — whether the issue is the hip joint itself, the pelvis, the lumbar spine or a combination — and whether imaging is recommended. A tailored plan is outlined.
Your First Session
If appropriate, care begins at your first visit — pelvic and lumbar adjustment, hip mobilisation and initial exercises. Your practitioner explains everything before proceeding.
Injured Your Hip?
ACC Can Help.
If your hip pain is the result of an injury — a fall, sport, lifting or workplace incident — ACC may subsidise your chiropractic and physiotherapy care at WYLD.
No GP referral is required. Our chiropractors and physiotherapists are registered ACC providers and can lodge a new claim at your first appointment. Simply mention your injury when booking.
WYLD is also recognised by Southern Cross health insurance for chiropractic, physiotherapy and acupuncture.
Book Your Chiropractic Assessment
Select your nearest clinic to book online. New patients welcome. ACC patients — mention your hip injury when booking.
Hip Pain FAQ
Hip pain can result from bursitis, labral tears, osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, gluteal weakness, hip flexor tightness, sports injury and referred pain from the lumbar spine. The hip is deeply connected to the pelvis and spine — which is why a full biomechanical assessment is important.
Many people are surprised that chiropractors commonly work with hip pain. The pelvis and lumbar spine directly influence hip mechanics — a tilted pelvis or restricted SI joint can produce pain that feels like it's in the hip itself. Our chiropractors assess the full chain and use pelvic and spinal adjustment to address these contributors.
If your hip pain resulted from an injury — a fall, sport or workplace incident — ACC may subsidise your chiropractic and physiotherapy care. No GP referral required. Our practitioners lodge claims in-house.
Both are excellent for hip pain. Chiropractic addresses pelvic alignment and spinal mechanics — the upstream factors. Physiotherapy provides hip-specific strengthening, rehabilitation and exercise. At WYLD, both work under one roof and many hip patients see both.
Not always — many hip conditions can be assessed clinically. However, if a labral tear, fracture or significant arthritis is suspected, your practitioner may recommend X-ray, ultrasound or MRI. We refer for imaging directly — no GP visit needed.
Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa on the outside of the hip. It produces a deep ache that worsens with lying on the affected side, stairs and prolonged walking. It's commonly driven by gluteal weakness and pelvic imbalance — which is why a combined chiropractic and physiotherapy approach works well.
WYLD has 5 Auckland clinics: Ponsonby (20 Jervois Road), Newmarket (2A Railway Street), Takapuna (439 Lake Road), Howick (128 Picton Street) and Birkenhead (119 Birkenhead Avenue). All offer chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage and acupuncture. Open 7 days.
5 Auckland Clinics
"Hip pain responds best to a combined approach — our chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists work together across all 5 WYLD clinics."
Ponsonby · Newmarket · Takapuna · Howick · Birkenhead