Hip Pain Assessment in Adelaide
Hip pain is rarely just a hip problem. The lower back, the pelvis, and the gluteal tendons often share the load with the hip joint itself. Research suggests assessment should consider the full kinetic chain, not the hip in isolation.
At Stapleton Chiropractic, Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) assesses the hip, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac region together to identify what is driving your pain. Your first visit is $69 and includes assessment and, where clinically appropriate, care on the same day.
Trusted by patients across Adelaide's southern suburbs since 1972. AHPRA registered. Evidence-informed kinetic-chain assessment. No lock-in plans.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Common hip pain patterns we hear. Tap a card if it resonates.
Groin stiffness worst in the morning that eases once you get moving, but stairs remind you it is there
Lateral hip pain at night – you cannot lie on that side without it waking you
Sharp groin pinch when you squat or get out of a low chair, especially after a long drive
Deep buttock ache that feels connected to your lower back and flares when you twist
Your First Hip Pain Assessment – $69
A structured assessment of the hip, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac region together. Where clinically appropriate, hands-on care is included on the same day.
Detailed History
Onset, pain pattern, aggravators, night pain, work and activity load, prior hip or back history, and red-flag screening.
Hip Range and Strength Testing
Flexion, extension, abduction, rotation. Gluteal strength and provocation tests for FAI and gluteal tendinopathy.
Lumbar and Sacroiliac Screen
Range, palpation, and movement patterns. The lumbar spine and SI joint are common sources of referred hip pain.
Gait and Functional Observation
Sit-to-stand, single-leg stance, and a short walk, looking for Trendelenburg pattern and compensatory movement.
Plain-English Explanation and Care
Findings explained clearly. If care is appropriate, gentle treatment begins the same visit. Activator, drop-piece, or soft tissue approaches available.
Why Patients Choose Stapleton Chiropractic for Hip Pain
🏛️ Established 1972
Over 50 years of continuous practice from the same Marion Road location. A Plympton Park practice your family likely already knows.
🎓 Evidence-Informed
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor) holds a BSc (Chiropractic) and MChiro from Macquarie University. Care is guided by clinical practice guidelines and musculoskeletal research. Outcomes discussed honestly.
📍 Convenient and Accessible
Open 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. Free on-site parking. Marion Road commuter corridor. All major private health funds accepted. No referral required.
Who We See for Hip Pain
Hip pain covers a regional cluster of patterns. Below are common presentations we assess at Stapleton Chiropractic.
🌤️ Hip Osteoarthritis
What you might be experiencing:
- Groin and front-of-hip stiffness worst first thing in the morning, easing as you move
- Deep ache after sitting, catching feeling when you first stand up
- Putting on socks is awkward. Stairs remind you it is there
Research suggests conservative care (load guidance, gluteal work, and hip mobilisation) may help manage pain and function for hip osteoarthritis. Individual responses vary.
The Stapleton Chiropractic connection: We use gentle Activator and drop-piece techniques alongside loading work suited to the individual. If advanced OA warrants an orthopaedic opinion, we facilitate that referral.
🛏️ Lateral Hip Pain (Gluteal Tendinopathy)
What you might be experiencing:
- Deep tenderness over the bony point on the side of the hip
- Cannot lie on that side at night without pain waking you
- Aggravated by crossing legs, walking on a slope
Research suggests progressive gluteal loading is first-line care for greater trochanteric pain syndrome and may be more effective than cortisone injection over time. Individual responses vary.
The Stapleton Chiropractic connection: We focus on gluteal loading guidance, soft tissue work to the gluteal muscle bellies, and avoidance of direct pressure on the tendon during a flare.
🏋️ Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
What you might be experiencing:
- Sharp groin pinch at end of a squat, deep hip flexion, or a long car trip
- Getting out of a low couch or chair is the worst
- Active adult in your 20s, 30s, or 40s
Research suggests a physiotherapy-style loading and movement retraining programme may help manage symptoms for many people. An orthopaedic opinion is warranted if conservative care plateaus.
The Stapleton Chiropractic connection: We assess movement patterns, provide manual therapy to restricted areas, and guide progressive loading. If mechanical locking develops, we discuss orthopaedic referral.
🦴 Referred Hip Pain from Lower Back
What you might be experiencing:
- Deep buttock or posterior hip ache that feels connected to your lower back
- Twisting or bending flares it. Sneezing tugs the wrong way
- Pain radiating into thigh, sometimes hard to pinpoint
Research suggests buttock pain may originate from the hip, lumbar spine, or sacroiliac joint. A structured assessment looks at all three together to identify the driver.
The Stapleton Chiropractic connection: We assess hip movement, lumbar movement, and sacroiliac function together as a kinetic chain. Care targets whichever structure is driving the pattern.
Sorting Out Which Pattern Fits
Hip pain is an umbrella. These patterns each behave differently and respond to different emphasis in care. Naming the pattern helps shape the plan.
🧑⚕️ Hip Osteoarthritis
Location: Groin, front of hip, sometimes thigh and knee
Aggravators: Stairs, prolonged sitting, twisting, morning stiffness
Research suggests: Manual therapy plus exercise may help manage pain and function
🔥 Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Location: Bony point on the side of the hip, radiating down outer thigh
Aggravators: Side-lying at night, crossing legs, walking on a slope
Research suggests: Progressive gluteal loading is first-line and may outperform cortisone injection
🛑 Femoroacetabular Impingement
Location: Groin, occasional C-sign grip around the hip
Aggravators: Deep squat, low chair, long car trips
Research suggests: Physiotherapy-style rehab may help many; orthopaedic opinion if plateau
🔄 Referred from Lumbar or Sacroiliac
Location: Buttock, posterior hip, sometimes into thigh
Aggravators: Bending, twisting, sustained positions, sneezing
Research suggests: Assessment looks at hip, lumbar, and SI together as a kinetic chain
*Assessment may find one pattern dominant, or a mix of contributors. Care is tailored to what the examination finds.
⚠️ Warning Signs That Warrant Urgent Medical Review
Most hip pain is mechanical and not an emergency. Seek urgent medical review if your hip pain is accompanied by:
- Fever, night sweats, or malaise alongside a hot, swollen, very tender hip (may suggest septic arthritis – medical emergency)
- Inability to bear weight after a fall or trauma (may suggest fracture)
- Severe night pain unrelieved by rest that wakes you regularly
- Unexplained weight loss, cancer history, or new bony hip pain that feels different
- Progressive weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder/bowel control (emergency department – call 000)
- Sudden groin pain with pale, cold, pulseless lower limb (vascular emergency)
- Children with hip pain, fever, and a limp – always warrants urgent review
If any of these apply, contact your GP, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or attend your nearest emergency department.
How Hip Pain Connects to Other Conditions
Hip Pain and Lower Back Pain
The lumbar spine and sacroiliac region share nerve pathways with the hip and pelvis. Pain felt in the groin, buttock, or lateral hip may refer from the lower back. Assessment looks at both areas together.
Hip Pain and Knee Pain
Hip and knee pain often travel together through the kinetic chain. Gluteal weakness associated with hip pathology can alter knee mechanics, and knee problems can change gait in ways that load the hip differently.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Stapleton Chiropractic is an evidence-based chiropractic practice at 528 Marion Road, Plympton Park, Adelaide (Est. 1972). An initial consultation costs $69 and includes a comprehensive 30-minute hands-on assessment. All major health funds accepted; no referral needed.
Allow up to 30 minutes for a comprehensive initial consultation. Here is how it works.
You Tell Us
We listen carefully, ask the right questions, and build a clear picture of what has been going on.
We Assess
Hands-on testing and biostructural analysis to identify what may be contributing to your concern.
We Explain
We walk you through our findings and your options in plain language. If imaging is recommended, we will explain why and discuss your options.
X-rays are only referred for with your consent, and where eligible, may be bulk billed.*
Care May Begin
Where clinically appropriate, care may begin on your first visit to help support relief.*
We offer both traditional hands-on chiropractic techniques and gentle, low-force approaches, tailored to your comfort. Care only proceeds with your consent.
Ready to Get Started?
Your first visit takes about 30 minutes. No referral needed, no lock-in plans. The decision is always yours.
Book Your First Visit*Subject to clinical assessment and suitability criteria. Bulk billing subject to eligibility criteria and clinical need.
Transparent Affordable Fees
Source: Australian Chiropractors Association Consultation Fee Survey 2025 (SA data). *Care provided where clinically appropriate, subject to assessment.
Care that fits your day
528 Marion Road, Plympton Park SA 5038
Ready to Get Started? We're Ready When You Are.
Choose a time that works for you. No referral needed.
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq)
$69
Initial Consultation
Up to 30 minutes, including full assessment
Book Your First VisitPrefer to call? (08) 8297 5277
Text: 0400 105 454 | Email: wecanhelp@stapletonchiropractic.com.au
You will receive a confirmation email with all details immediately after booking.
How Much Does a Chiropractor for Hip Pain Cost in Adelaide?
Based on the ACA Fee Survey 2025, Stapleton Chiropractic is well below the South Australian average.
$69
Stapleton Initial
$122
SA Average Initial
Standard visits: $60 (SA average: $71)
Source: Australian Chiropractors Association Fee Survey 2025. All major private health funds accepted.
What Does the Research Say?
Conservative manual therapy, graded exercise, and load guidance feature in mainstream guidelines for musculoskeletal hip pain. The studies below summarise research findings, not what any individual will experience.
Courtney et al. – Manual Therapy Plus Exercise for Hip and Knee OA
Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs suggesting manual therapy added to exercise may produce small additional short-term benefits on pain and function for hip and knee osteoarthritis. Individual responses vary.
JOSPT, 2022Mellor et al. – Exercise vs Cortisone for Lateral Hip Pain
RCT of 204 adults with lateral hip pain. Progressive exercise and education produced higher improvement at 8 weeks and greater sustained improvement at 52 weeks compared with cortisone injection or wait-and-see.
BMJ, 2018Griffin et al. – Hip Arthroscopy vs Physio for FAI
Multicentre RCT of 348 adults with femoroacetabular impingement. Both hip arthroscopy and personalised physiotherapy produced improvement; arthroscopy statistically favoured at 12 months. Both are legitimate first-line choices.
Lancet, 2018. PMID: 29803910Bennell et al. – Physical Therapy for Hip OA
RCT of adults with hip osteoarthritis. Multimodal physical therapy (manual therapy, education, home exercise) produced improvement in pain and function compared with sham, though effect sizes were modest. Individual responses vary.
JAMA, 2014. PMID: 24838356Mallows et al. – Exercise for GTPS
Systematic review of RCTs for greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Exercise produced small improvement in pain and function versus control, shockwave, or injection. Progressive tensile loading is the current evidence-backed approach.
Physiotherapy, 2024Abbott et al. – Manual Therapy Plus Exercise for Hip OA
RCT of 206 adults with hip or knee OA. Manual therapy combined with exercise produced clinically meaningful short-term improvements in pain and function. Effects tapered at 12 months, reinforcing ongoing self-management.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 2013. PMID: 23395635*All care is provided subject to clinical assessment. Individual responses to treatment vary.
Cold Laser Therapy for Hip Pain
For patients with tendon-related hip pain, photobiomodulation (cold laser) therapy may offer additional support. Our Multi-Radiance MR5 ACTIV PRO delivers therapeutic light at 905nm, particularly relevant for gluteal tendinopathy and hip-related muscle tension.
💡 How It Works
Near-infrared light penetrates tissue to support cellular energy production and tissue recovery. For hip pain patients, this may help address tendon irritation and chronic muscle guarding around the hip and pelvis. Individual responses vary.
🧪 Research Context
Photobiomodulation has a growing evidence base for musculoskeletal tendinopathy. The mechanism – supporting tissue recovery and reducing muscle fatigue – is relevant to gluteal tendinopathy and hip-related muscle tension patterns.
💲 Pricing
Cold laser initial assessment: $99. Standard sessions from $80. Can be used alongside chiropractic care or as a standalone option. ACL11 Cold Laser operates from the same building.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Pain
Answered by Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor).
It may be. The lumbar spine and sacroiliac region share nerve pathways with the hip and pelvis. A structured assessment looks at hip range, lumbar movement, and sacroiliac function together to identify the driver rather than the hip in isolation.
In most cases, no. Imaging is helpful when red flags are present, after significant trauma, or when conservative care has not produced meaningful change. Many hip presentations respond to assessment-led care without imaging. We will explain if imaging would add useful information.
Research suggests conservative care including manual therapy combined with exercise and load guidance may help manage hip OA pain and function. A 2022 JOSPT meta-analysis reported small additional benefits from adding manual therapy to exercise. Individual responses vary. Advanced OA may warrant orthopaedic review.
Also called gluteal tendinopathy, it is a common cause of lateral hip pain. Research suggests progressive gluteal loading is first-line care and may be more effective than cortisone injection over time. Soft tissue work helps while direct pressure on the tendon is avoided during a flare.
Gentle, graded activity usually helps more than rest for most mechanical hip pain. Walking, pool work, stationary cycling, and short glute-strengthening sets are typical starting points. Avoid specific provocations for a few days. A tailored plan after assessment is more useful than a generic one.
If you have fever with hip pain, inability to bear weight, severe pain after a fall, unexplained weight loss, night pain unrelieved by rest, or a history of cancer, see your GP or emergency department first. Chiropractic is well suited to mechanical hip pain after those possibilities have been considered.
Initial consultation is $69, standard follow-ups are $60. No lock-in plans. All major health funds accepted with on-the-spot claiming where your fund supports it.
No. Chiropractic in Australia is a primary-contact profession. You can book directly. If you have red-flag features, please see your GP first. We coordinate with your GP where that makes sense.
Femoroacetabular impingement is a mechanical pattern where hip bones may contact abnormally during deep flexion. Research suggests many adults respond to progressive loading and movement retraining. If conservative care plateaus, an orthopaedic opinion is worth considering.
History-taking about your hip pattern and red-flag screening, physical examination including hip, lumbar, and sacroiliac screens, and a discussion of findings. If care is appropriate, options are explained including Activator, drop-piece, and soft tissue techniques. The decision is always yours.
Common Concerns About Chiropractic for Hip Pain
🤔 "Is my hip too far gone for chiropractic?"
Even with advanced osteoarthritis, conservative care may help manage pain and maintain function while you consider options. If your hip warrants an orthopaedic opinion, we will always tell you.
🤔 "Should I just get a cortisone injection?"
For lateral hip pain, the LEAP trial found progressive exercise produced better sustained improvement at 52 weeks than cortisone injection. An injection may help short-term, but loading work addresses the underlying issue.
🤔 "Will I need to come forever?"
No lock-in plans. Progress is reviewed at each visit. Many hip presentations respond within a handful of visits with ongoing self-management. The decision to continue is always yours.
🤔 "Is chiropractic just cracking?"
We use gentle, low-force techniques (Activator, drop-piece) that do not involve cracking. These are well-tolerated and suited to an irritated or guarded hip. The approach is tailored to your comfort.
Ready to Get Your Hip Assessed?
Two ways to move forward. No pressure, no lock-in plans.
Mon–Fri 7am–7pm | Sat 8am–12pm | Free Parking | 528 Marion Road, Plympton Park
Take the First Step
A structured kinetic-chain assessment is the starting point. You will know what is driving your hip pain and what options may help after your first visit.
Book Your Hip Assessment – $69No referral required. Same-day care where appropriate. All major health funds accepted.
Ready to Get Started? We're Ready When You Are.
Choose a time that works for you. No referral needed.
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq)
$69
Initial Consultation
Up to 30 minutes, including full assessment
Book Your First VisitPrefer to call? (08) 8297 5277
Text: 0400 105 454 | Email: wecanhelp@stapletonchiropractic.com.au
You will receive a confirmation email with all details immediately after booking.
Last clinically reviewed: 17 May 2026 by Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor), B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro.(Macq), AHPRA Registered.
Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)
B.Sc.(Chiro), M.Chiro. – Macquarie University. AHPRA registered. Member, Australian Chiropractors Association. In practice since 2014. Sam takes a kinetic-chain approach to hip pain, assessing the hip, lumbar spine, and sacroiliac region together.
Last clinically reviewed: 22 April 2026 by Dr Sam Johnson (Chiropractor)