Hip Pain Treatment in Novato
Hip pain treatment in Novato, CA for bursitis, stiffness, and pain linked to the low back. Dr. DeSalvo restores motion and strength without drugs. Book today.
Chiropractic care for hip pain
Get to the root of your hip pain
Also known as: Hip Joint Pain
Hip pain doesn't always start in the hip — and treating only the hip often misses the point. That's why hip pain treatment in Novato, CA at DeSalvo Chiropractic begins with the whole hip-pelvis-low back unit. Dr. Douglas DeSalvo finds what's actually causing your pain, then builds a drug-free plan that restores motion, helps calm inflammation, and strengthens the muscles that keep the hip stable for the long haul.
Symptoms of hip pain
- ✓Pain in the hip joint, groin, or outer thigh
- ✓Deep aching or sharp pain with walking and climbing stairs
- ✓Stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting too long
- ✓Reduced range of motion — difficulty rotating or crossing the leg
- ✓A clicking, catching, or popping sensation in the hip
- ✓Pain that radiates from the low back into the buttock or hip
- ✓Limping or shifting your weight to avoid the sore side
Common causes
- Hip bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sac over the greater trochanter
- Pelvic and hip joint misalignment altering how load is distributed
- Hip osteoarthritis wearing down the joint cartilage over time
- Muscle imbalances — tight hip flexors or weak glutes straining the joint
- Overuse injuries from running, cycling, or repetitive sport movements
- Referred pain from a lumbar disc, nerve, or sacroiliac joint problem
- Labral irritation or minor tears from twisting or repetitive hip loading
Our approach
How we treat hip pain in Novato
- Step 1
Thorough exam
We review your history and run orthopedic, gait, and movement testing on your hip, pelvis, and low back — because hip pain usually has more than one contributing factor. We refer for imaging only when it will change your care plan.
- Step 2
A clear, personalized plan
You'll get a plain-English explanation of what we found and a specific, time-bound care plan with a real endpoint — not an open-ended string of visits.
- Step 3
Targeted treatment & rehab
We combine chiropractic adjustments to restore pelvic and hip alignment with corrective exercise and sports rehab to rebuild the strength and flexibility that protect the joint.
The basics
Understanding hip pain
Your hip is one of the most load-bearing joints in the body — it supports your full weight with every step, absorbs force when you run or jump, and anchors the muscles that power nearly every lower-body movement. It also doesn't work alone. The hip, pelvis, and lumbar spine form a tightly connected mechanical unit, and a problem in any one of them shifts stress onto the others.
That's why hip pain is easy to misread. When only the hip is evaluated, the real driver — a pelvic misalignment, a stiff sacroiliac joint, or a lumbar disc issue referring pain downward — can be missed entirely. At DeSalvo Chiropractic in Novato, we examine the whole unit so we can treat what's actually causing the problem, not just where you feel it. Much hip pain is mechanical — bursitis, joint restriction, muscle imbalance, or referred nerve pain from the low back — which means it often responds well to conservative, drug-free care.
One visit. Real answers. A plan made for you.
Reserved for new patients: an unhurried first visit with Dr. DeSalvo himself. Your one-on-one consultation, comprehensive exam, muscle and nerve function assessment and first treatment, plus a care plan designed around you, all for $97.
What your New Patient Special includes
- A one-on-one consultation with Dr. DeSalvo
- A comprehensive exam
- A muscle & nerve function assessment
- Your first treatment
- A customized care plan, built around your goals
New patients only, one per person. X-rays are not included. If you choose to continue care, your care plan and its pricing are discussed with you up front. Not available for automobile-accident or personal-injury cases. Read the full New Patient Special disclaimer.
Types of hip pain we treat
“Hip pain” covers a wide range of conditions, and knowing which one you’re dealing with changes everything about the care plan. We regularly help patients from Novato and across Marin County with:
- Hip bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sac over the greater trochanter, causing aching pain on the outer hip or thigh that’s worst lying on that side or after stairs. See our bursitis page for more.
- Hip impingement (FAI) — extra bone growth at the ball or socket that pinches the labrum with deep flexion; common in active adults and athletes.
- Referred pain from the spine — a lumbar disc, facet joint, or sacroiliac problem can send pain directly into the hip or groin. Treating the hip alone won’t fix it (see Low Back Pain and Sciatica).
- Labral irritation — the cartilage ring lining the socket can become irritated from twisting, repetitive loading, or an underlying alignment problem; it often presents as a deep clicking or catching sensation.
- Hip osteoarthritis — gradual cartilage wear that causes morning stiffness and aching with activity; conservative care can help ease pain and stiffness and keep you moving.
- Muscle-imbalance pain — tight hip flexors and weak glutes alter how the joint loads with every step, leading to chronic irritation that responds well to corrective exercise.
- Sports and overuse injuries — IT band syndrome, hip flexor strains, and stress reactions from running or cycling are common presentations we treat through sports injury rehab.
Your exam tells us which pattern is driving your pain so your plan is built around your hip — not a generic protocol.
What to expect at your first visit
Your first appointment runs about 45–60 minutes, and it’s focused on understanding your hip before we treat it. We’ll:
- Listen to your story — when the pain started, what makes it worse or better, how it affects your daily movement and activity.
- Examine thoroughly — orthopedic tests, gait analysis, and movement screening of the hip, pelvis, and low back as a unit. We order imaging only when it will change your care.
- Explain what we found — in plain English, with a clear time-bound care plan and honest expectations for your recovery.
- Begin care when appropriate — many patients receive their first gentle adjustment the same day.
You’re never signed up for open-ended treatment. Just a specific plan with a real finish line and the rehab to keep the hip stable once the pain is gone.
Drug-free hip pain relief — without injections or surgery
Cortisone injections can quiet hip pain for a few weeks, but they don’t correct the alignment or muscle imbalance that’s driving it. Surgery is often avoidable for the most common hip conditions. Chiropractic care works differently — we relieve the pain and address the mechanics causing it, without drugs or downtime. For many patients across the Novato area, the goal is getting back to walking, stairs, exercise, and sleep sooner, with the strength to stay there. If your exam ever shows that imaging, a specialist, or a surgical consult is the right next step, we’ll tell you directly and help coordinate that care.
When to see a chiropractor in Novato
Hip pain deserves attention sooner rather than later. Waiting allows compensatory patterns to develop in your gait and posture that can drag the knee, low back, and opposite hip into the problem. Consider booking an exam if you notice:
- Pain in the hip, groin, or outer thigh that lingers more than a few days
- Stiffness that makes it hard to get dressed, get in and out of a car, or climb stairs
- Limping or unconsciously shifting your weight to the other side
- Hip discomfort that gets worse after sitting for long periods
- Pain that seems connected to your low back — or that radiates down the leg
We do refer when it’s appropriate: if your exam or imaging points to a hip replacement candidate, severe arthritis, or a fracture, we’ll tell you clearly and coordinate with the right specialist.
Why Novato-area patients choose DeSalvo Chiropractic
Patients from Novato and across Marin County choose us because we look past the symptom to find the cause. Dr. DeSalvo uses a thorough orthopedic and movement assessment to map the hip-pelvis-low back relationship, then builds a plan that uses chiropractic adjustment to restore proper joint mechanics, corrective exercise to correct the muscle imbalances driving the problem, and sports injury rehab for athletes who need to return to full activity.
Hip pain and low back pain are closely linked — if you’re dealing with both, our approach addresses them together rather than in isolation. Ready to find out what’s really going on? Our New Patient Special makes it easy to get started, and you can book your exam online.
Why choose chiropractic
Chiropractic care vs. the typical hip-pain routine
| Comparison factor | Chiropractic Care | Pain Meds & Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Addresses the root cause | ✓Corrects alignment & mechanics | ✕Masks the symptoms |
| Drug-free & non-invasive | ✓Always | ✕Rarely |
| Risk of side effects | ✓Minimal | ✕Higher (meds, surgery) |
| Personalized to you | ✓Custom care plan | ✕One-size-fits-all |
| Builds long-term strength | ✓Rehab included | ✕Seldom addressed |
| Typical recovery | ✓Active & gradual | ✕Often lengthy |
Treatment options
Services we use to relieve hip pain
Chiropractic Care
Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments in Novato, CA that restore motion to restricted joints and relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches at the source.
Learn more →Arthrostim Adjusting
Gentle Arthrostim adjusting in Novato, CA — rapid, low-force instrument impulses help restore joint motion without twisting or cracking. Book your first visit.
Learn more →Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in Novato, CA — corrective exercise, manual therapy, and rehab that rebuild strength and help keep back, neck, and shoulder pain from returning.
Learn more →Athlete Care
Athlete care in Novato, CA — hands-on treatment and a staged return-to-sport plan for strains, sprains, and overuse injuries at every level. Book an exam.
Learn more →Related conditions
Other conditions we treat in Novato
Patient reviews
What our Novato patients say
“I had a great experience at DeSalvo Chiropractic! Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and professional, and I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in. They took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure I understood what they were doing throughout my visit.”
“Great chiropractic service! The staff was friendly and professional, and I felt comfortable throughout my visit. The treatment was helpful, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for quality chiropractic care.”
“I am an avid tennis player with the usual tennis injuries and Dr. Desalvo has helped me play again without pain!”
What causes hip pain?
Hip pain most commonly comes from bursitis, joint or pelvic misalignment, muscle imbalances (tight hip flexors, weak glutes), arthritis, or overuse from sport or exercise. It can also be referred pain from a lumbar disc or sacroiliac joint — which is why a full hip-pelvis-low back exam matters more than just treating where it hurts.
Can a chiropractor help hip pain?
Yes, in many cases. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment of the hip and pelvis, which takes abnormal stress off the joint and surrounding muscles. Combined with corrective exercise and rehab, many patients see improvement in pain and range of motion. We'll be straightforward with you if imaging or a specialist referral is the better path.
How do I relieve hip pain at home?
Gentle movement (short walks, hip circles), ice for acute inflammation or heat for chronic stiffness, targeted stretching of the hip flexors and piriformis, and temporarily avoiding aggravating activities can help manage symptoms. If the pain is sharp, came on after a trauma, or keeps you up at night, book an exam so we can address the cause rather than just manage it.
Is my hip pain actually coming from my back?
Often, yes. The lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints, and hip all share nerve pathways and work as a mechanical unit. A disc or facet joint problem in the low back frequently refers pain into the hip, groin, or outer thigh — and treating only the hip won't resolve it. Our exam specifically tests for this pattern.
How do I know if I need a hip replacement vs. chiropractic?
We screen for that on your first visit. Significant joint-space loss, end-stage osteoarthritis, or fracture history are signs we refer to an orthopedic surgeon. For many people with hip pain, though, conservative care is a reasonable first step before surgery is considered.
How long does hip pain treatment take?
It depends on what's causing it and how long it's been present. After your exam, Dr. DeSalvo gives you a specific, time-bound plan with a clear endpoint. Many patients notice improvement within the first few weeks of care.
Do you treat hip bursitis?
Yes. Hip bursitis responds well to a combination of joint alignment work, soft-tissue therapy, and a corrective exercise plan that removes the mechanical stress driving the inflammation. We help manage it conservatively — we don't claim to cure it, but the goal is to get you to the point where it no longer limits your daily life. Read more on our bursitis page.
Will my insurance cover hip pain treatment?
We accept many major insurance plans and offer affordable self-pay options as well. Send us your insurance information and we'll verify your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Do you treat hip pain from sports injuries?
Absolutely. Hip labral strains, IT band syndrome, hip flexor pulls, and bursitis from running or cycling are among the sports-related hip problems we evaluate for active patients across Novato and Marin County. Sports injury rehab is a core part of our care model.
When should I see a doctor for hip pain?
Seek immediate evaluation if your hip pain followed a fall or trauma (possible fracture), if you cannot bear weight, if you have fever alongside the pain, or if there is significant visible deformity. For all other hip pain that limits your activity or lasts more than a few days, a chiropractic exam is a smart first step before escalating to injections or surgery.