Living with chronic hip pain for over five years is exhausting, especially when no treatment seems to last for any length of time. That was the case for one of our clients, Veronica, a 31 yr old office worker who came to Movement Matters after years of recurring right hip discomfort and pain.
She’d noticed her symptoms would often worsen in cold, damp weather, a common sign of chronic hip pain, but never received a formal diagnosis. Relaxation massage helped in the past, but only temporarily.
Looking for lasting results, she enrolled in a four-week treatment program with one of our senior therapists. What followed was a tailored, multi module approach that helped her reclaim comfort, mobility, and confidence to move freely again.
Week 1. Digging Deeper Than the Symptoms
Our first session was all about getting to the root cause. We spoke in length with Veronica about her chronic hip pain, finding out what she did for work, what she did recreationally and a list of other topics which could help us get to the bottom of her pain.
We conducted the following:
- Postural and gait assessment
- Range of motion testing
- Orthopaedic screening
- Detailed palpation of soft tissues
No red flags emerged and this was a great sign that Veronica was suitable for manual therapy. We found significant tightness in her lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. Although her hip joint moved well, it was clear the surrounding muscle tissue was under strain.
Due to her needle phobia, we avoided dry needling and instead used deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy. After just one session, her muscles felt looser, and her flare ups started to ease.
Week 2. Fascia, Function & Strength
In the second treatment we added:
- Myofascial cupping (static and kinetic)
- Continued deep tissue work
- A home program targeting lower back strength
The client reported a marked improvement, though she began to notice some new tension around her right knee, a sign that old compensation patterns were starting to unravel. This is common during corrective work, and we reassured her that her body was beginning to rebalance.
Week 3: Going Deeper with the ITB
Now that the iliotibial band (ITB) was involved, our focus shifted slightly. We incorporated:
- Myofascial release across the hip, glutes, adductors, and quads
- Self-mobilisation techniques to improve hip joint freedom
The result, less pain, better mobility and a huge step forward.
Week 4. Restoring Joint Movement
In the final week, we focused on integration and joint health:
- Gentle hip joint mobilisations
- Continued fascial and deep tissue work
- Trigger point therapy to support long-term muscle balance
Two weeks later, Veronica reported that for the first time in years, her hip didn’t flare up at all during the first few weeks of our cold, wet winter. While some mild discomfort remained, it was much easier for her to manage and Veronica was able to start running and working out again with next to no discomfort and she no longer avoided leg day throughout the cold winter months.
What we learned
To be perfectly honest with you, this case study has simply proven once again, that we are on track with our approach here at Movement Matters. We were so glad to have been able to help another one of our clients in their journey to wellness and pain-free movement. This case is a great example though of how a tailored approach to manual therapy, supports a long term outcome even for pain that’s been with you for years. Our toolkit this time included
- Deep tissue and trigger point massage
- Myofascial Release
- Functional and static cupping
- Joint mobilisation
- Simple, progressive home exercises
Each technique played a role in helping Veronica’s body to adapt to change and too Move Better, Feel Better, and Live Better.
Moving Forward Veronica is now coming to Movement Matters just once a month for maintenance massages and has had next to no pain, since her treatment plan with us ended. At Movement Matters we don’t believe chronic pain is something you have to just suffer through. With the right blend of remedial therapy, education, and consistent support, real relief from pain is possible.
If you’ve been dealing with stubborn hip or joint pain, please reach out to us because your path to recovery might just start with a treatment at Movement Matters.
