Written by: Nurudeen Tijani (Wellness and Pain Relief Fitness Coach)
People involved in a sedentary lifestyle, occupation, or physical activities often experience discomfort in the hip. The primary causes are magnesium deficiency, muscle restriction, and chronic inflammation.
This article explores these causes and provides effective non-surgical treatments and preventive strategies.
Ready to address hip pain and find relief? Discover how the TitaniumPhysique Program can help. Yes, I’m ready to relieve pain .
Article Summary
Table of Contents:
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).
Learn more about musculoskeletal disease prevalence in our 2024 research.
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.
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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.
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.
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 treatment options mentioned earlier.
The TitaniumPhysique Program is designed to address the root causes of muscle and tendon issues in the hip, focusing on reducing inflammation, restoring magnesium levels, and relieving muscle restrictions to heal and prevent hip pain.
This program was developed through extensive research on musculoskeletal pain and disorders, combined with professional expertise in wellness and fitness coaching.
It provides a targeted approach for those experiencing hip pain due to physical activities, sedentary lifestyles, or demanding occupations.
Overview of the Program:
Ready to tackle the root causes of hip pain? Yes, I’m ready to relieve pain .
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, providing immediate relief.
It’s important to perform these exercises correctly to achieve the best results, experience lasting relief, and prevent further injury. For detailed video guidance, access the TitaniumPhysique Program.
Ready to get started? Yes, I’m ready to eliminate hip pain .
Exercise #1: Psoas Muscle
Massage the Psoas Muscle with a PSO-Rite:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the psoas muscles using a PSO-Rite.
Exercise #2: Gluteus Medius
Massage the Gluteus Medius with a Massage Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the gluteus medius using a massage ball.
Exercise #3: Rectus Femoris
Massage the Rectus Femoris with a Peanut Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the rectus femoris using a peanut ball.
Exercise #4: Piriformis
Massage the Piriformis with a Foam Roller:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the piriformis using a foam roller.
Exercise #5: Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL)
Massage the Tensor Fasciae Latae with a Foam Roller or Rumble Roller:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the TFL using a foam roller.
Exercise #6: Hamstrings and Adductors
Massage the Hamstrings and Adductors with a Medicine Ball:
In the photo below, I demonstrate how to treat the hamstrings and adductors using a medicine ball.
Ready to take the next step?
Get access to the TitaniumPhysique Program. Yes, I'm ready to fix my hip .
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