Written by: Nurudeen Tijani (Wellness and Pain Relief Fitness Coach)

Our step-by-step program is designed to help you eliminate hip pain — so daily activities no longer feel limited.
In this section, we’ll cover the root causes, muscle and joint issues, and general factors contributing to this condition.
Root Cause #1: Magnesium Deficiency
Around 70 to 80% of people in the U.S. are magnesium deficient, which significantly impacts muscle health, particularly in the hip and supporting muscles.
Magnesium is essential for muscle relaxation, while calcium promotes muscle contraction. When magnesium levels are low, muscles tend to remain tense, leading to strain on tendons, overburdened ligaments, and inflammation in the hip.
Approximately 40% of the body’s magnesium is stored in muscles. Low magnesium levels can cause muscle twitching, cramps, and spasms—symptoms that may contribute to hip pain.
Additionally, magnesium dissolves excess calcium, preventing calcification in soft tissues. This process keeps muscles, tendons, and ligaments flexible and healthy.
Magnesium deficiency also contributes to inflammation, which is often linked to conditions like hip bursitis.
The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, explains that factors such as strenuous work, intense exercise, caffeine, stress, and dehydration can further deplete magnesium levels.
Individuals engaged in demanding physical activities should actively replenish magnesium to maintain muscle health and prevent hip pain.
Root Cause #2: Muscle Restriction
With the body deficient in magnesium, the hip and supporting muscles—including the psoas, piriformis, tensor fascia latae, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, hamstrings, and adductors—are more likely to become tense, lose elasticity, and contract over time.
Muscle restriction occurs when muscle fibers become tight, shortened, or knotted and can no longer relax fully.
This restriction often stems from repetitive movements, prolonged sitting, or physical activities that overuse these muscles.
When restricted, these muscles place excessive tension on tendons and joints in the hip, leading to inflammation and pain.
Muscle restriction can also change how the hip moves, causing conditions like snapping hip syndrome and abnormal gait (the pattern in which a person walks or runs).
Root Cause #3: Chronic Inflammation
With the body deficient in magnesium and muscle restrictions present in the hip flexors, chronic inflammation often develops as a result of repetitive tendon and muscle strains in the hip joint.
Initially, inflammation may be acute, causing temporary pain as the body attempts to heal strained tissues. However, unresolved inflammation can last for months, leading to chronic hip pain.
Chronic inflammation occurs when the body’s natural healing process is impaired, preventing repair of injured muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
This ongoing cycle of inflammation can lead to long-term hip inflammatory and degenerative issues like bursitis, osteoarthritis, and tendonitis.
Note: Besides muscle strain, various medical conditions can cause hip issues. Here is an article from Johns Hopkins Medicine on medical conditions that cause hip pain.
Hip and Flexor Muscles
The following hip and supporting muscles are listed in order of their significance in contributing to hip pain.
When these muscles become restricted, they create tension, strain, and discomfort in the hip joint.
Anatomy of the Hip Joint
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint where the head of the femur (thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum, a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis. This structure allows for a wide range of motion, including walking, running, and bending.
The joint is stabilized by surrounding ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, such as the labrum, which cushions the socket and supports smooth movement.
Healthy cartilage acts as a protective layer, reducing friction during movement and absorbing shock from physical activities. However, when joint health deteriorates, this balance is disrupted, leading to pain and mobility issues.
A photo of the hip anatomy is available below.
Joint Issues Associated with Hip Pain
Joint issues often develop when the hip experiences prolonged strain, inflammation, or degeneration, which are closely linked to the root causes of hip pain, such as muscle restriction and chronic inflammation.
Restricted hip and flexor muscles can increase tension on the joint, disrupting its natural alignment and overloading cartilage and ligaments.
Over time, this strain can cause wear and tear, resulting in joint-specific problems:
Muscle vs. Joint Issues in Different Age Groups
Muscle and joint issues tend to affect different age groups in distinct ways.
Addressing muscle imbalances early can help prevent joint damage, making it essential to tackle these root causes promptly.
The images below illustrate the hip joint and muscles mentioned earlier.
The "X" indicated in the images are where trigger points in the tissue tend to occur. Trigger points, known as muscle knots, are small, hyperirritable spots within a muscle. They cause tenderness and discomfort.





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Acute hip pain often results from muscle restriction and repetitive strain, worsened by strenuous physical activities or poor posture. This can lead to injuries such as hip bursitis.
Other symptoms of acute hip pain include:
This type of pain is typically an inflammatory response as the body attempts to repair strained or injured tissues.
Acute inflammation usually lasts for a few days to a few weeks. Rest, proper care, and targeted treatment can help alleviate pain and support healing.
Chronic hip pain is characterized by persistent tension, stiffness, and dull aches, often resulting from prolonged restriction in the hip and flexor muscles.
Over time, tight muscles such as the psoas, piriformis, tensor fascia latae, gluteus medius, and hamstrings contribute to discomfort and limited mobility.
Key symptoms of chronic hip pain include:
Chronic hip pain develops when muscle restrictions and inflammation persist for three months or more, creating a cycle of discomfort that requires targeted interventions to resolve.

Recurring tendon and muscle pain shouldn’t keep interfering with your day.
If hip pain keeps returning, there’s a better way to address it.
Ready to take the next step? Yes, I'm ready to fix my hip
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is highly effective for relaxing tight hip and flexor muscles, improving circulation, and easing stiffness. This method is particularly helpful for managing chronic tension and discomfort in the hip.
How to Apply Heat Therapy:
Heat therapy increases blood flow to the hip muscles, reducing tension and providing relief from ongoing discomfort.
Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is ideal for acute injuries in the hip joint, such as inflammation from repetitive strain or sharp pain after sudden impact. Cold reduces swelling, numbs the area, and provides temporary pain relief.
How to Apply Cold Therapy:
Cold therapy helps reduce inflammation and relieve acute hip pain, making it an essential tool for managing sudden injuries.
Joint Supplements & Health Vitamins
Painkillers (NSAIDs)
Joint Injection (Cortisone Shot)
Topical Anti-Inflammatory Remedies (Oil, Cream, Spray, Gel, Poultices)
Strength and Physical Therapy
Manual Therapy (Massage, Cupping, Dry Needling)
Vibrating Massagers
Kinesiology Tape Therapy
Pain Relief Patches
Stretching Therapy
The image below illustrate some of the short-term non-surgical treatment options mentioned earlier.


Self-myofascial release (SMR) is an effective technique for relieving chronically tight hip and flexor muscles, reducing strain, enhancing mobility, and improving overall hip function.
By applying targeted pressure to specific points in the fascia—the connective tissue around muscles—SMR encourages restricted muscles to relax, alleviating discomfort and restoring flexibility.
Recommended Tools:
These tools are durable, affordable, and offer accessible solutions for ongoing pain management in the hip.
Performing targeted self-myofascial release (SMR) exercises is a highly effective way to relieve hip pain.
These exercises focus on specific muscles prone to restriction, such as the psoas, piriformis, tensor fascia latae, gluteus medius, and hamstrings.
For best results, use a holistic approach and massage the hip flexors and all supporting muscles.
Exercise #1 — Massage the Psoas Muscle
Massage the Psoas Muscle with a PSO-Rite:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the psoas muscles using a PSO-Rite.


Exercise #2 — Massage the Gluteus Medius
Massage the Gluteus Medius with a Massage Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the gluteus medius using a massage ball.


Exercise #3 — Massage the Rectus Femoris
Massage the Rectus Femoris with a Peanut Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the rectus femoris using a peanut ball.


Exercise #4 — Massage the Piriformis
Massage the Piriformis with a Foam Roller:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the piriformis using a foam roller.


Exercise #5 — Massage the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL)
Massage the Tensor Fasciae Latae with a Foam Roller or Rumble Roller:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the TFL using a foam roller.


Exercise #6 — Massage the Hamstrings and Adductors
Massage the Hamstrings and Adductors with a Medicine Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to massage the hamstrings and adductors using a medicine ball.


Our hip pain program is designed to help you eliminate pain, so daily activities no longer feel limited.
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