Specialist MSK physiotherapy · UK
Hip physiotherapy, by a specialist MSK physio.
HCPC-registered CSP physios and MACP-registered advanced MSK specialists — for FAI and labral pathology, gluteal tendinopathy, hip OA, and surgeon-matched rehab after hip arthroscopy, THA or PAO.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A specialist MSK physio, not a generalist
HCPC-registered, CSP members, and — for the complex cases — MACP-registered advanced MSK physios who work with hip preservation surgeons every week.
- 02
Hip preservation experience
Our specialist physios rehab FAI, labral repairs, PAO and hip arthroscopy alongside BHS surgeons — the protocols are surgeon-matched, not generic.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private hip physiotherapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our specialist network. BUPA, AXA, Vitality and AVIVA typically cover MSK physio benefits — we confirm before booking.
In short
A first assessment in our network: £90–£140, a written plan the same visit.
| Session or programme | Indicative range | Typical duration | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial MSK assessment (60 min) | £90–£140 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up session (30–45 min) | £60–£100 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Specialist hip preservation physio | £110–£160 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Post-op THA / arthroscopy rehab package | £800–£1,600 | 10–16 sessions | 3–6 months |
| LEAP hip OA programme (12 weeks) | £600–£1,000 | 8–12 sessions | 3 months |
| Return-to-sport testing (Y-balance, hop) | £120–£180 | 60–90 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by the physio’s specialism (MACP or hip preservation carries a premium), and by whether you are on a session basis or a packaged programme. NHS access via GP → FCP or MSK triage is free at the point of use; workplace schemes often cover MSK physio too.
The problem
The right diagnosis, the right loading, the right protocol.
Most hip physio is generic — a few stretches, a foam roller and vague advice. Specialist MSK physio uses the correct protocol for the pathology, and objective outcome measures to prove it is working.
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Diagnosis unclear?
FAI, GTPS, OA and referred pain look similar. We assess, use validated outcome measures, and — if imaging is needed — say so.
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Post-op with no protocol?
We follow your surgeon’s post-op protocol precisely — labral repair, microfracture, THA or PAO all have different timelines.
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Athlete needing return?
Objective return-to-sport gates: single-leg hop, 90% LSI, Y-balance and sport-specific KPI — not a calendar guess.
The journey
From enquiry to retest — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to your 12-month retest — including the home programme in between.
Phase 1 · Before your assessment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A structured clinical hour
Phase 3 · After
Loading, reviews, retests
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Pain, function, sport, previous surgery, imaging if you have it.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right physio for your problem — FAI, GTPS, OA, post-op — and an indicative session cost.
- 03
Before
We arrange the first assessment
Usually within one week. Bring imaging reports, any surgeon protocol, and your normal gym or training clothes.
- 04
On the day
Initial assessment
60 minutes: history, functional impact, gait, hip ROM, muscle length (Thomas, Ober, Trendelenburg), strength testing, outcome measures (HOOS, iHOT-12).
- 05
On the day
The plan, in writing
A staged programme tailored to your pathology — with home exercises, videos and gym progression. Sport-specific if that is the goal.
- 06
On the day
Hands-on plus loading
Manual therapy where it helps, but the work that changes the hip is progressive loading — heavy slow resistance, motor control, movement retraining.
- 07
After
Review, retest, progress
Acute phase 2–3× weekly for 2–4 weeks, then weekly to fortnightly. Retest at 3, 6 and 12 months against your baseline.
Typical end-to-end: 1 week from enquiry to first session. Programme length: 8–16 weeks non-surgical, 3–9 months post-op.
When it helps
When specialist hip physio is the right step.
The hip pathologies we see most, plus the red flags that mean urgent medical review rather than a physio booking.
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FAI and labral pathology
Groin pain, C-sign, catching or clicking with hip flexion — pre-op conservative rehab or post-arthroscopy protocols.
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Gluteal tendinopathy / GTPS
Lateral hip pain lying on your side or with prolonged sitting — heavy slow resistance loading (Grimaldi/Mellor protocol).
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Hip osteoarthritis
Groin or buttock pain, stiffness, functional decline — the LEAP programme is evidence-based first-line care.
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Post-op rehabilitation
Total hip replacement, hip arthroscopy, PAO or resurfacing — surgeon-matched protocols and phased loading.
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Iliopsoas or adductor tendinopathy
Anterior hip or groin pain, snapping, or kicking pain in sport — tissue-specific loading and technique work.
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Snapping hip syndrome
Internal (iliopsoas) or external (ITB) snapping — differentiated on assessment, then loaded correctly.
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Athletes returning to sport
Load management (ACWR), single-leg hop, 90% LSI and Y-balance — objective criteria, not guesswork.
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Red flag: night pain, fever, trauma
Unremitting night pain, fever, unexplained weight loss or acute trauma need urgent medical review — not a physio booking.
Pathways
Pathology-specific programmes, not one-size-fits-all.
Every hip problem has an evidence-based protocol. We follow it — surgeon-matched when you are post-op, evidence-based when you are not.
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FAI conservative rehab
3–6 month programme: mobility (careful with flexion and IR in the irritable phase), core stability, gluteal strengthening and movement pattern retraining.
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Post hip arthroscopy rehab
Weight-bearing progression per surgeon protocol — labral repair vs microfracture timelines differ. Typically 4–6 months of physio.
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Total hip replacement rehab
Early ambulation, precautions if posterior approach (no flexion >90°, IR or adduction for 6–12 weeks), progressive functional retraining. Driving at 6 weeks, sport 3–6 months.
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PAO rehab
Partial weight-bearing 6–8 weeks, progressive loading, 6–9 months of physio to full return.
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Gluteal tendinopathy programme
12-week Grimaldi/Mellor protocol: isometric → isotonic → dynamic. Avoid compression: pillow between knees in side-lying, adjust sitting posture. ESWT as rescue.
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LEAP for hip OA
Lower Extremity Arthritis Programme: quadriceps + gluteal strengthening, aerobic activity, weight loss support, walking aid teaching, pain education.
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Groin / adductor loading
Copenhagen adductor exercises for adductor-related groin pain, progressive loading, sport-specific reintroduction.
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Return-to-sport testing
Objective criteria: single-leg hop, 90% limb-symmetry index, Y-balance, sport-specific KPI — before we clear you back to full play.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of specialist MSK physios, we picked them.
HCPC-registered CSP physios across London and the UK, with MACP-registered advanced specialists and hip preservation physios linked to BHS surgeons for complex cases.
Selection criteria
How we choose every physio in our network.
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HCPC-registered, CSP-member physiotherapists
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MACP-registered advanced MSK physios for complex cases
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Specialist hip preservation physios linked to BHS surgeons
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Objective outcome measures — HOOS, iHOT-12, HHS, HAGOS — used at every review
Safety and progression
What good physio looks like — honestly.
Hip physio is very safe when the diagnosis is right and the loading is dosed properly. The bits worth knowing are what to avoid in each phase, and what actually drives change.
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The right loading, at the right dose
Tendinopathy needs heavy slow resistance, not stretching. OA needs progressive strength work, not rest. The prescription matters as much as showing up.
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Irritable FAI: careful with flexion and IR
In the irritable phase we avoid deep hip flexion, internal rotation and end-range positions that reproduce impingement. This is not permanent — it is phase-specific.
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GTPS: avoid compression
Sitting with legs crossed, sleeping on the sore side without a pillow between the knees, and standing hanging on one hip all compress the tendon. Small tweaks change symptoms.
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Post-THA precautions if posterior approach
No hip flexion beyond 90°, no internal rotation, no adduction across midline for 6–12 weeks. Anterior-approach patients have fewer restrictions.
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Weight-bearing follows the surgeon
Post-arthroscopy WB depends on whether a labral repair, chondroplasty or microfracture was done. We follow the surgeon protocol, not a generic template.
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Athletes: manage the load, not just the pain
Acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) between 0.8 and 1.3 keeps you training. Spikes above 1.5 are how re-injuries happen.
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Home programme is the intervention
Two supervised sessions a week does not fix a hip. The daily home programme — 15–20 minutes, done properly — is what changes tissue and behaviour.
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Video review helps
Squat, lunge, running gait — we film, review together and adjust. Feedback beats verbal cueing every time.
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Red flags
Unremitting night pain, fever, unexplained weight loss, sudden loss of function or acute trauma need urgent medical review — call your GP or A&E.
Reading your physio plan
Your physio plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever pathology we are treating, the written plan you leave the assessment with keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Loading language is precise — we walk you through it so you know what to do at home.
If you want us to talk you through your plan or your post-op protocol before your first session, just ask.
- 01 Assessment
Diagnosis and functional baseline
Pain history, aggravating and easing factors, functional impact, gait, hip ROM (goniometry), Thomas, Ober and Trendelenburg tests, strength (dynamometer) and outcome measures — HOOS, iHOT-12, HHS or HAGOS.
- 02 Plan
Staged programme and dosage
The pathology-specific pathway — LEAP for OA, Grimaldi/Mellor for GTPS, Copenhagen for adductors, surgeon-matched post-op — with load, sets, reps and frequency written down.
- 03 Home
Home programme and gym progression
Videos of every exercise, sets and reps, weekly progression rules, and what to do if a session flares symptoms.
- 04 Review
Retest points and return-to-sport gates
Read this first: when you are retested (3, 6, 12 months), what the criteria are, and — for athletes — the return-to-sport gates before full play.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most major insurers (BUPA, AXA, Vitality, AVIVA, WPA, Cigna) cover MSK physiotherapy under the MSK benefit — session limits and pre-authorisation rules vary. We confirm cover before booking. Workplace schemes often add extra MSK sessions.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hip physiotherapy.
Quick answers on sessions, cost, insurance cover, NHS access, and return-to-sport.
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How is hip physio different from a general physio session?
Specialist MSK physios have post-registration training in hip pathology, use validated outcome measures (HOOS, iHOT-12), and — for hip preservation and post-op — follow surgeon-matched protocols. Generalists often default to stretching, which is not the answer for tendinopathy or FAI.
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How many sessions of hip physio will I need?
For most non-surgical hip problems, 6–8 sessions over 8–12 weeks alongside a daily home programme. Post-op rehab (hip arthroscopy, THA, PAO) is longer — typically 10–16 sessions over 3–6 months. Tendinopathy programmes run 12 weeks.
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How much does private hip physio cost in the UK?
Initial assessment £90–£140, follow-ups £60–£100. Specialist hip preservation physio £110–£160. A LEAP hip OA programme is £600–£1,000 over 12 weeks; a post-op package £800–£1,600. BUPA, AXA, Vitality and AVIVA cover under MSK benefit — we confirm before booking.
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Can I get hip physio on the NHS?
Yes — via your GP or a First Contact Physio (FCP) in your practice, or through MSK triage. Waits vary by area; the pathway is usually 6–8 sessions. Private routes exist for faster access or where you want a specialist for complex hips.
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Should I have physio before hip surgery?
For FAI and labral pathology, 3–6 months of well-directed conservative rehab is often first-line and can avoid surgery. For hip OA, the LEAP programme is NICE-recommended before joint replacement. For confirmed structural cases needing surgery, pre-hab improves post-op outcomes.
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Is stretching bad for a painful hip?
Sometimes. In irritable FAI, deep flexion and internal rotation stretches provoke impingement. In gluteal tendinopathy, ITB stretches compress the tendon and make it worse. Loading is usually the answer, not lengthening — a specialist will tell you which is which.
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When can I return to sport after hip arthroscopy?
Typically 4–6 months for recreational sport, 6–9 months for pivoting or contact sport. Gates are objective: 90% limb-symmetry index on single-leg hop, Y-balance within 4 cm of the other side, and sport-specific KPI — not just a calendar date.
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What outcome measures should I expect?
HOOS (Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), iHOT-12 (International Hip Outcome Tool) for younger active patients, HHS (Harris Hip Score) post-arthroplasty, and Copenhagen HAGOS for groin pain. We baseline at assessment and retest at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Hip injection treatment
Image-guided steroid or PRP injections for hip pain.
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Hip impingement surgery
Arthroscopic surgery for FAI and labral pathology.
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Hip replacement
Total hip replacement — approach, recovery, outcomes.
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All tests
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more