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Why Do I Have Hip Pain When Walking Up Stairs?

Topic at a Glance

  • If your hip hurts when walking up stairs, it could be due to problems with your hip joint, hip flexor muscles, soft tissues, or fluid-filled sacs (bursae). Common causes of hip pain include hip bursitis, hip arthritis, hip impingement, hip flexor strain, and inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • When climbing stairs, the hip flexor and gluteal muscles work harder, placing added stress on the hip socket, thigh bone, and outer hip. This can develop pain in the groin region, outer thigh, buttock muscles, or upper thigh.
  • Physical therapy, strengthening exercises, massage therapy, pain relievers, steroid injections, and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, reduce strain, and support pain-free movement.
  • If you’re experiencing persistent hip pain, sharp pain, muscle weakness, hip injury, hip fractures, or symptoms affecting the sciatic nerve or lumbar spine, consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Are you experiencing discomfort or pain in your hips, particularly when navigating stairs? In this article, we’ll delve into the common causes of hip pain associated with climbing stairs and explore effective treatment options to alleviate your discomfort. 

If you’re seeking professional assistance, Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine, with locations in Granville and Coshocton, Ohio, stands ready to provide expert care tailored to your needs. Don’t let hip pain hold you back—let’s take the first step towards finding relief and reclaiming your mobility together!

Understanding Hip Pain

Hip pain can be a real bother, especially when it comes to everyday tasks like climbing stairs. It often stems from issues within the hip joint, which is a ball-and-socket joint connecting your thigh bone (femur) to your pelvis. This joint is crucial for movements like walking, running, and, of course, climbing stairs.

One common cause of hip pain is chronic hip conditions like hip arthritis. This occurs when the cartilage cushioning the hip socket wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. Another culprit can be hip fractures, which can happen due to falls or accidents, particularly in older adults with weakened bones.

When you have hip pain, it might feel like a dull ache in your groin, outer thigh, or buttocks. Sometimes the pain can be sharp and intense, especially when you put weight on the affected hip, like when climbing stairs.

A woman experiencing hip pain while walking up the stairs.

What Are the Causes of Hip Pain When Climbing Stairs?

Hip pain while climbing stairs can stem from various causes. One common cause is hip fractures, which can occur due to falls or accidents, especially in older adults with weaker bones. These fractures can make climbing stairs painful and difficult.

Another culprit is rheumatoid arthritis, a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the hip joint, causing inflammation and pain. When stairs are climbed, the pressure on the hip joint can exacerbate this discomfort.

Additionally, chronic hip pain conditions like osteoarthritis can lead to hip pain while climbing stairs. Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the hip socket, causing pain and stiffness, particularly during movements like stair climbing.

When you climb stairs with hip pain, you might feel aching, stiffness, or sharp pains in your hip or groin area. Sometimes, the pain can radiate down your thigh or buttocks, making each step uncomfortable.

When to See a Doctor

If you feel pain while climbing stairs, knowing when to seek medical help is crucial for your well-being. If your hip hurts consistently, especially during activities like climbing stairs, it’s a sign that something might be wrong.

Here are some signs that indicate it’s time to see a doctor for your hip pain:

  • Persistent Pain: If you consistently feel pain in your hip, especially if it interferes with your daily activities like climbing stairs or walking, it’s essential to get it checked out. Persistent pain can indicate underlying issues like arthritis or hip fractures.
  • Difficulty Moving: If you find it challenging to move your hip or experience stiffness that limits your range of motion, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice. Difficulty moving your hip can be a sign of various hip conditions that require treatment.
  • Knee Pain: Sometimes, hip problems can manifest as knee pain. If you feel pain in your knee, particularly when climbing stairs, it could be related to issues in your hip joint. Seeing a doctor can help determine the root cause of your pain.
  • Changes in Blood Flow: If you notice changes in the blood flow to your leg, such as swelling, warmth, or discoloration, it could indicate a serious problem like a blood clot. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms along with hip pain.
  • Recent Trauma: If you’ve experienced a fall or injury to your hip area recently and now feel hip pain, it’s crucial to get evaluated by a healthcare professional. A hip fracture or other injuries may not always be obvious immediately after the incident.


It’s essential to listen to your body. If you feel hip pain that doesn’t improve with rest or affects your daily activities, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. Early intervention can help prevent further complications and get you back to climbing stairs without discomfort.

How to Treat Hip Pain

To ease hip pain, try over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or NSAIDs. Physical therapy exercises designed by a physical therapist can strengthen hip muscles and improve flexibility, enhancing blood flow for healing. 

Apply heat or ice packs to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Modify daily activities to avoid aggravating the pain, and consider using assistive devices like handrails when climbing stairs. 

Injections or surgery may be options for severe cases, but typically after conservative treatments have been tried. Working closely with healthcare professionals ensures a tailored treatment plan for effective pain management.

Preventing Hip Pain Caused by Climbing Stairs

To prevent hip pain, it’s essential to take care of your hips and overall health. Here are some tips:

  1. Exercise Regularly: Engage in activities that strengthen the muscles around your hips, such as walking, swimming, or yoga. Strong muscles provide support and reduce strain on the hip joint.
  2. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight puts added pressure on your hips, increasing the risk of pain and injury. Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.
  3. Practice Proper Posture: Pay attention to your posture, whether sitting, standing, or walking. Avoid slouching or leaning to one side, as this can strain your hips and lead to discomfort.
  4. Use Proper Technique: When lifting heavy objects or exercising, use proper technique to protect your hips from injury. Bend at the knees and hips, and avoid twisting your body.
  5. Take Breaks: If you have a job or activity that requires prolonged sitting or standing, take regular breaks to stretch and move around. This helps prevent stiffness and promotes blood flow to the hip area.
  6. Wear Supportive Shoes: Choose shoes with good arch support and cushioning to reduce impact on your hips while walking or exercising.

Finding Relief for Hip Pain

If you’re experiencing persistent hip pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine. With convenient locations in Granville and Coshocton, OH, our team of experts can provide personalized care to address your hip pain and help you get back to enjoying life without limitations. 

Schedule an appointment today and take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and comfort!

Medically reviewed by Brad L. Bernacki, MD

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FAQs About Hip Pain When Climbing Stairs

Why does my hip hurt when walking up stairs?

If your hip hurts when walking up stairs, it’s often due to increased pressure on the hip joint during hip flexion. Climbing stairs requires the hip flexor muscles, gluteal muscles, and buttock muscles to engage more intensely than level walking.

This added demand can irritate soft tissues in the hip area, including the hip flexor tendon, fluid-filled sacs involved in hip bursitis (such as trochanteric bursitis or iliopsoas bursitis), or worsen underlying hip problems like hip arthritis or hip impingement.

The common causes of hip pain when climbing stairs include:

  • Hip bursitis, including trochanteric bursitis affecting the outer hip or outer thigh
  • Hip flexor strain or hip flexor pain due to tight muscles or overuse
  • Hip arthritis, including inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis
  • Hip impingement, where the hip bone and hip socket do not move smoothly
  • Hip dysplasia, where the hip socket does not fully cover the thigh bone
  • Hip fractures, especially in individuals with weakened bones
  • Referred pain from the lumbar spine or irritation of the sciatic nerve
 

A healthcare professional will review your medical history and symptoms to determine the exact cause.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • Sharp pain after a fall or suspected hip injury
  • Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
  • Sudden muscle weakness
  • Signs of hip fractures
  • Swelling, warmth, or circulation changes suggesting blood flow problems
  • Severe groin pain or buttock pain that does not improve
 

Persistent pain that interferes with daily movement or climbing stairs should also prompt evaluation.

To ease hip pain and reduce inflammation, consider:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers
  • Ice or heat therapy
  • Physical therapy guided by a licensed physical therapist
  • Strengthening exercises targeting hip muscles and gluteal muscles
  • Massage therapy to reduce tight muscles
  • Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce strain on the hip joint
  • Wearing shoes with good arch support
 

If conservative treatments do not provide adequate hip pain relief, your provider may recommend steroid injections or, in severe cases, discuss hip surgery options such as hip replacement or total hip replacement.

Yes. Physical therapy plays a key role in both treatment and prevention. A physical therapist can design a customized program to:

  • Strengthen hip muscles and buttock muscles
  • Improve hip flexion mechanics
  • Increase flexibility in the hip flexor muscles
  • Improve posture and correct poor posture habits
  • Address issues caused by prolonged sitting
  • Promote pain-free movement
 

These strategies help prevent hip pain and reduce the likelihood that you’ll develop pain when climbing stairs in the future.

If you are experiencing persistent hip pain even after rest and conservative treatments, further evaluation may be needed. Diagnostic imaging can help identify structural hip problems such as hip dysplasia, hip impingement, advanced hip arthritis, or damage within the hip socket.

In some cases, ongoing persistent pain may require more advanced interventions, including hip surgery. Your healthcare professional will guide you through options designed to manage pain, restore mobility, and improve long-term joint health.

  1. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/hip-bursitis/