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exercise physiology
for hip pain.
Stength and hip mobility.
The right exercises, at the right dose.
A sore hip changes everything. Getting out of bed takes negotiation. Stairs become something you plan around. You stop walking the dog because you already know what the rest of the day will feel like. But the advice you keep hearing, “just stay active” doesn’t answer any of your questions.
“Which exercises are safe for me to do?”
“When do I push through discomfort and when do I stop?”
This is where Exercise Physiology comes in.
Patients & Families
For referrers and Support Coordinators
Osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinopathy, a hip replacement that still doesn’t feel right six months later. The starting point is different for each one, but the principle is the same: understand the problem, then prescribe the right exercise at the right dose.
This is the process of care and rehabilitation roadmap that our Exercise Physiologists follow across our Fourteen clinics in NSW and Tasmania.
With over 20 years of hands on experience, we are a proud multidisciplinary provider who welcomes NDIS, Medicare, DVA, Private Health, CTP and self-funded private patients.
Hip Pain: How to Fund
Exercise Physiology
Most people with hip pain who would like to see an exercise physiologist have more funding options than they realise. You may be eligible to funding via:
- MEDICARE: a GP Chronic Disease Management Plan (formerly known as an EPC plan) from your GP, may give you up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year with a rebate.
- NDIS: You can access Exercise Physiology under Improved Daily Living or Capacity Building, and we work directly with support coordinators to make sure your plan funds are used well.
- DVA: if you are a Gold or White Card holder, you are covered for Exercise Physiology referrals.
- Private Health Insurance: Extras policies typically include Exercise Physiology, and we offer HICAPS on the spot.
Not Sure What Fits Your Plan?
1800 678 647
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Fill in an enquiry form.
Some of the Hip Conditions Our
Exercise Physiologists Work With
01
Hip Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common reason people see us for hip pain. The RACGP guidelines are clear: exercise is the first-line treatment, ahead of medication and ahead of surgery. But “exercise” is vague.
Your exercise physiologist will prescribe targeted strengthening for the gluteal muscles and hip stabilisers, gradually increasing load to build the capacity your joint needs. Many people find they can defer or avoid surgery altogether when they commit to a structured program. Research by Bennell and colleagues confirms that land-based exercise reduces pain and improves function in hip osteoarthritis.
02
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
(Hip Bursitis)
That sharp ache on the outside of your hip, worse when you lie on it at night. Trochanteric pain syndrome is often mismanaged with rest and anti-inflammatories alone. The underlying issue is usually gluteal tendon weakness or poor load management.
Your exercise physiologist will identify which movements aggravate the tendon, modify your activity to reduce compression, and progressively strengthen the area. It is slow work. But it is the approach with the strongest evidence behind it.
03
Pre and Post Hip Replacement
The stronger your hip muscles are before surgery, the faster your recovery tends to go. We call this prehabilitation. After surgery, your exercise physiologist will guide you through staged rehabilitation, from basic range of movement in the first weeks to loaded strengthening, balance training, and return to the activities that matter to you.
We work alongside your surgeon’s protocols and adjust the program as your hip heals.
04
Hip Flexor and Adductor Tendinopathy
Tendons do not respond to rest alone. They need load, but the right kind and the right amount. If your hip flexors or inner thigh tendons are painful, your exercise physiologist will use isometric holds and slow progressive loading to rebuild tendon tolerance.
This is not a quick fix. Tendons adapt over weeks and months, not days. But graded loading programs are the gold standard treatment, and that is exactly what Exercise Physiology delivers.
05
Hip Flexor and Adductor Tendinopathy
Tendons do not respond to rest alone. They need load, but the right kind and the right amount. If your hip flexors or inner thigh tendons are painful, your exercise physiologist will use isometric holds and slow progressive loading to rebuild tendon tolerance.
This is not a quick fix. Tendons adapt over weeks and months, not days. But graded loading programs are the gold standard treatment, and that is exactly what Exercise Physiology delivers.
What Exercise Physiology for
Hip Pain Actually Looks Like.
Your first appointment runs about 45 to 60 minutes. Your exercise physiologist will ask when the pain started, what makes it worse, what makes it better, and how it is affecting your week. Then they will watch you move, test how your hip handles load, check which muscles are firing and which have switched off, and look at the way you walk. No surprises. No rush.
From there, your program might include targeted strengthening for the gluteal and hip-stabiliser muscles, isometric holds if a tendon is the driver, graded loading that starts where your hip is right now and builds week by week, hydrotherapy sessions in the heated pool if you are near Blacktown, Croydon Park, Campbelltown, or Mornington, and clear advice on which activities to keep, modify, or pause while your hip settles. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners recommends structured exercise as the first-line treatment for hip osteoarthritis, ahead of medication and ahead of surgery. We follow that evidence.
Follow-up sessions are around 30 minutes. Frequency depends on what we are working on. Tendinopathy and post-surgical hips often start weekly while we get the load right. Osteoarthritis works well at weekly sessions with a strong home program between visits, then less often as the home program does more of the work.
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Full assessment
Your story, hip range, muscle activation, gait, hands-on examination of your hip and the surrounding muscles. 45-60 minutes.
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Find Your Dose
Tolerable starting load, isometric holds if a tendon is the driver, gentle hip mobility. Settle the area.
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Build the strength
Targeted strengthening for your gluteals and hip stabilisers. Home program, hydrotherapy if helpful.
--
Return to load
Progressive loading toward the activities that matter to you. Walking, stairs, sport, sleep, work.
Hydrotherapy for
Hip Pain
Warm water takes weight off the hip joint while allowing you to move and strengthen with less pain. Our hydrotherapy pools at Blacktown, Croydon Park, Campbelltown, and Mornington (TAS) are heated to support comfort and muscle relaxation.
Your exercise physiologist can run pool-based sessions as part of your hip program, which is particularly useful in the early stages of osteoarthritis, post-surgical recovery, or when land-based exercise is too painful to start with.
Two of the most common funding routes
Exercise Physiology for Hip Pain
A GP referral through a Chronic Disease Management Plan gives you up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year with a Medicare rebate. Your GP writes the plan, you book with us. DVA Gold and White Card holders are also covered with a GP referral. Private health insurance extras policies typically include Exercise Physiology, and we offer HICAPS on the spot.
NDIS: Exercise Physiology for Hip Pain
Hip pain that limits your mobility can be funded through your NDIS plan under Improved Daily Living or Capacity Building with sessions that run in clinic, at your home, or in the community. Your exercise physiologist sets measurable goals around the things that matter to your daily life, walking to the shops, getting in and out of a car, climbing the front steps without holding on. We write the reports. We track the data. When your plan review comes around, the evidence is already there.
12 clinics across NSW & Tasmania
Email us
hello@opt.net.au
Speak to us
1800 678 647
Get in Touch.
Tell us a little about your hip pain and what you’re hoping to get back to. Our intake team will respond with next steps and an honest estimate of timing.
Locations
We aim to respond to all enquiries within one business day. If you need to speak with someone now, call us on 1800 678 647.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I still exercise if my hip hurts?
In most cases, yes. Avoiding all movement can make hip pain worse over time because the muscles around the joint weaken and stiffen. The key is doing the right exercises at the right intensity. Your exercise physiologist will assess your hip and prescribe movements that load the joint safely, avoiding anything that aggravates your symptoms. If you have been told to rest and the pain has not improved, it may be time to try a supervised exercise program instead.
What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and an Exercise Physiologist for hip pain?
A physiotherapist uses hands-on techniques like manual therapy, dry needling, and mobilisation alongside exercise. An exercise physiologist focuses entirely on exercise prescription, designing and progressing structured programs over weeks and months. For chronic hip conditions like osteoarthritis or tendinopathy, where long-term exercise is the primary treatment, Exercise Physiology is often the better fit. At Optimum Health Solutions, both work under one roof, so your team can combine approaches if needed.
What are the best exercises for hip pain?
There is no single best exercise. It depends entirely on the cause. Gluteal strengthening (bridges, clamshells, side-lying hip abduction) and gentle range-of-movement work are the foundation for hip osteoarthritis. Tendinopathy responds to isometric holds and slow progressive loading. Post-surgical hips follow staged protocols from basic mobility to full strength. Your exercise physiologist tests which movements your hip tolerates and builds the program from there.
Do I need a referral for to see an Exercise Physiologist for hip pain?
No referral is needed to book a private appointment. If you want to access Medicare rebates, you will need a Chronic Disease Management Plan (GP Management Plan) from your doctor. NDIS participants need Exercise Physiology included in their plan. DVA patients need a referral from their GP. Our admin team can explain which pathway applies to you when you call to book.
How many sessions will I need?
That varies by condition. For hip osteoarthritis, research supports ongoing exercise, so we typically start with weekly sessions and move toward a self-managed program over 8 to 12 weeks. Post-surgical rehabilitation can take 12 to 24 weeks depending on the procedure and your goals. For tendinopathy, expect a 12-week loading program at minimum. Your exercise physiologist will give you a realistic timeframe at your first appointment and adjust as you progress.
Kieran Doyle
APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist APAM MACP
MMuscPhysio, GradCertMuscPhysio, MPhty, BAppSc(Ex&SpSc)
OPTIMUM HEALTH SOLUTIONS
With over 18 years of experience across Australia and the United Kingdom, Kieran is an APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, a qualification held by fewer than 1 in 10 physios, with a background spanning private practice, sports medicine, and complex neurological rehabilitation. He reviews all musculoskeletal content for clinical accuracy.
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