NE Minneapolis

2125 E Hennepin Ave, Suite 300,
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Coon Rapids

8770 Springbrook Dr. NW,
Suite 106, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
a

Why Your Stubborn Hip Pain Might Actually Be a Pelvic Floor Problem

by | Apr 13, 2026 | Pelvic Health

injured woman suffering from pelvis pain or hip joint injury; concept of pelvic joint pain, pelvic floor problems

You’ve done the clamshells. You’ve spent hours foam rolling your IT band until your legs are bruised. You’ve stretched your hip flexors religiously, yet that deep, pinching ache in your hip or groin just won’t quit.

If this sounds familiar, you aren’t “bad at stretching” and your hip isn’t “broken.” You’re likely just targeting the wrong victim. For many active women, the hip joint is simply the collateral damage of a much deeper issue: a tight or dysfunctional pelvic floor.

The Anatomy Connection: The “Door Frame” Problem

To understand why your hip hurts, we have to look at the Obturator Internus. While it sounds like a character from a sci-fi novel, it’s actually a powerhouse muscle that serves as a literal bridge between your worlds. It attaches to the inside of your pelvis and travels out to the back of your hip.

Because of this unique real estate, when the pelvic floor is tight, it pulls directly on the hip joint.

Think of it this way: Your pelvis is the foundation of your house. If the foundation is pulling too tight on one side, the door frame (your hip joint) isn’t going to swing open smoothly. No matter how much you oil the hinges (or stretch the hip), the door will still stick until you fix the foundation.

Woman in jeans with strong hip pain at home.4 Signs Your Hip Pain is a Pelvic Floor Problem

If your “hip pain” is actually pelvic floor hip pain, standard orthopedic exercises often fail to provide long-term relief. Check if you resonate with any of the following:

  • The “Pinch”: Your pain is felt deep in the groin or feels like a sharp pinching sensation at the very front of the hip.

  • The Stretch Paradox: Classic hip openers (like Pigeon Pose) actually make you feel tighter or more uncomfortable afterward.

  • The Silent Symptoms: You’re dealing with hip pain alongside tailbone tenderness, painful sitting, or discomfort during intimacy.

  • The Exercise Flare: You notice occasional bladder leakage specifically when your hip pain flares up during a run or workout.

How Specialized Physical Therapy Fixes It

Standard physical therapy often stops at the joint itself—focusing on glute strength and hip mobility. While those are important, they don’t address the internal tension pulling on the system.

At PRO Therapy, our specialists provide physical therapy for pelvic pain that evaluates the whole system. We don’t just look at the hip; we look at the foundation. Sometimes, this tension even occurs months after a hip replacement as the body tries to guard the new joint.

Treatment involves releasing that tension from the inside out. By calming the pelvic floor, we allow the hip to finally move the way it was designed to—without the constant “tug-of-war” from the inside. If you suspect your hip issues are connected to your pelvic floor, our pelvic health physical therapy in Minneapolis can help.

Stop Stretching. Start Healing.

Stop trying to stretch a muscle that doesn’t want to be stretched. It’s time to find the root cause of your hip and pelvic pain and get back to the activities you love without the “pinch.”

Book a discreet, 1:1 evaluation at our Northeast Minneapolis clinic. Let’s find the root cause together. Book a free screening with our Pelvic Health specialists today.

Related Posts

Follow Us

Download Your Free Reports

Tell us where it hurts and we’ll send you our best advice and top tips in one special report…

It’s free! just click below and find the one that works best for you…

Back Pain

Knee Pain

Neck Pain

Ankle/Foot Pain

Hip Pain

See What Our Patients Are Saying

Read our reviews from other people like you who came to see the physical therapy team – and left much healthier and happier.
Top rated
PRO Therapy5.0
Based on 379 reviews
Jonathan F.
Over the summer I was dealing with lower leg injuries after trying to get back into distance running. I had been working towards completing the Twin Cities Marathon (16 years after my first marathon TCM). I was starting to think I would have to drop out but someone I knew referred me here and to Dr. Kelvyn. He shared that he thought the race was still in reach and worked me to in the final several weeks, and I'm proud to say I showed up healthy on race day and completed the 2026 TCM thanks to his help.
Bob H.
10/10 would recommend Kevin and the clinic. The PT is top notch and cutting edge. I had them use the Stemwave technology for my MCL sprain, and noticed a dramatic improvement after just one session, and consistent improvements after each of my next three sessions. Pro Therapy is much more cutting edge and sports medicine based than most other PTs. I’d highly recommend them!
Jane T.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m so grateful for the care and support I received from Dr. Kevin! He made me feel comfortable, listened to my concerns, and genuinely cared about my progress. Dr. Kevin is great! He’s very nice, personable, and makes you feel comfortable throughout the process. He always takes the time to explain what’s going on, walk me through my options, and involve me in decisions about my treatment. I really appreciate how he makes sure I understand everything and feel like an active part of my care. I am very thankful for the treatment from Pro Therapy and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a caring, knowledgeable, and supportive physical therapist!
Martha A.
I am so grateful to Dr. Lily and everyone at PRO Therapy for the exceptional care I received after my total knee replacement. Dr. Lily helped me not only recover, but also return to the activities I love and regain confidence in my fitness journey. Her approach is truly personalized. She is extremely knowledgeable, listens to your needs and goals, and knows exactly how to challenge and motivate you without pain/injury. She also recognizes when treatment needs to be adjusted. Her wonderful personality makes even the toughest days manageable and fun. The entire PRO Therapy staff is kind, encouraging, and genuinely invested in each patient. You feel cared for as an individual—not just another number. Having experienced physical therapy at large healthcare institutions, I can say PRO Therapy is a far superior experience: personal, attentive, and focused on your goals. I’m having my second total knee replacement next month and have already scheduled appointments with Dr. Lily. There is nowhere else I would want to be for my rehab and fitness journey. I wholeheartedly recommend and thank Dr. Lily and PRO Therapy!
Ellie B.
Pro Therapy has been so helpful for me - Dr. Lily is the best!
Dave G.
Pro therapy is great! They quickly make you feel like a friend rather than a patient. Dr Kevin listens first then comes up with reasonable approaches to strengthen the root cause of my knee pain rather than a quick band aid type fix. The stem wave machine is also a godsend!
Ty L.
Have used PRO Therapy for a couple injury's now and they are great! Easy to work with, listen to your concerns and adapt treatments as needed! I highly recommend!
Andrea Mora B.
Anna and Peter S.
Great experience at Pro therapy with Dr Kelvyn. Lots of improvement. He is good at listening
Dennis
The best, care and expert.