Running, with its repetitive movements and high level of impact, puts a lot of stress on the bones, muscles and connective tissue of the hip. Hip pain can occur in runners of all age groups. It is important to take the proper precautions if you're experiencing running-related hip pain. While it may start off mild, hip pain can become much more sever as time goes on if it is not treated properly.

Features

Runners are susceptible to hip injuries because of the constant stress the hip bones are put under when moving up and down. Two common hip injuries that plague runners are hip bursitis and snapping hip. Hip bursitis is a condition where the bursae sac around the hip becomes inflamed and causes the surrounding area to swell over the bones. Snapping hip occurs when the tendons in the hip catch on the bones in your hip, which makes it hard to walk.

Causes

Common causes of hip bone pain are tendinitis and trochanteric bursitis. Both causes of hip pain come from stress put on the area from physical activity. Hip bursitis plagues runners by causing pain in the upper thigh region. The pain comes from the bursting of a fluid sac that lies between your hip bones. When the bursae sac bursts it allows the tendon to slide against your bone, causing you a jolt of pain every time you move your leg.

Symptoms

Pain on your side that makes it hard to walk is usually due to pain in the hip bone. Injuries in the hip bone can also cause deformities in the hip area. Other symptoms are redness around the hip area, the inability to fully extend your hip and pain in the hip while sleeping at night. Contact your doctor if the pain in your hip does not decrease after a few days.

Prevention/Solution

Try not to run on uneven surfaces that cause your hips to rise over your waist for an extended period of time. Run on a track or a treadmill to keep your hips even while you run. Stretch and do some warm-up exercises before running, and do some stretches and cool-down exercises after you finish your physical activity. Put more emphasis on stretching your thighs, lower back and hips to avoid injury. Ice the hip area to alleviate the pain and swelling if you feel pain in your hip after running. Cortisone shots from your local doctor should be a last resort to decrease your pain.

Considerations

Hip pain does not always start directly in the hip area. The pain can sometimes feel like it is in the upper thighs of your legs or the lower section of your groin. These symptoms of pain move to the hip area over some time. Pain in these areas could also come from lower back problems. Consult your local doctor for medical advice if the pain is getting worse or if the pain in your hip will not go away.