Your Complete Guide to Soft Tissue Mobility for Hip Pain

By dpope2020

October 31, 2025

dan pope, fitness pain free, hip, hip exercises, hip flexor stretch, hip impingement, hip mobility, hip mobility exercises, hip mobility stretches, hip pain, hip pain exercises, hip pain relief, hip pain relief exercises, hip pain stretches, Hip Replacement, hip stretch, hip stretches, hip stretching, physical therapy, soft tissue, soft tissue for hip pain, Soft Tissue Mobility for Hip Pain

Your Complete Guide to Soft Tissue Mobility for Hip Pain

To go along with today's video I have a nice infographic to share...

Sign up to receive FREE: Femoral Acetabular Impingement "Cheat Sheet"

Click HERE to Download FREE

Grab the rest of the Mini Course and Sign up for the Certification Pre-sale list:

In today's video we go over: Your Complete Guide to Soft Tissue Mobility for Hip Pain

Are you a physical therapist looking to enhance your treatment plans for patients with hip pain? In this video, we'll dive deep into effective soft tissue strategies for the muscles around the hip. Whether you're treating hip osteoarthritis, post-op hip labral repair, or general hip stiffness, this video is packed with practical techniques to improve pain, range of motion, and patient outcomes.

Why Watch This Video?

✅ Address Common Pain Points: Learn how to tackle hip pain, stiffness, and limited mobility—key challenges for physical therapists working with patients.

✅ Evidence-Based Insights: Discover why combining soft tissue strategies with joint mobilizations and exercise outperforms exercise alone for hip osteoarthritis and post-op recovery.

✅ Step-by-Step Techniques: Master targeted soft tissue strategies for anterior, medial, and posterior hip muscles, including rectus femoris, TFL, sartorius, psoas, adductors, glutes, and hamstrings.

✅ Practical Tools: Explore techniques like slide cupping, cross-friction massage, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, and pin-and-stretch to enhance your hands-on skills.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ How to locate key anatomical landmarks (ASIS, iliac crest, greater trochanter) for precise soft tissue work.

✅ Targeted strategies for anterior (rectus femoris, TFL, sartorius, psoas), medial (adductors), and posterior/lateral (glutes, hamstrings) hip muscles.

✅ Tips to avoid common mistakes, like over-relying on soft tissue work without a comprehensive plan of care.

✅ How to integrate patient education and exercise for long-term success.

TIMELINE

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 0:15 - Why Hip Soft Tissue Mobility?
  • 0:32 - Patient Education & Exercise
  • 1:12 - Hip Anatomy
  • 3:07 - Anterior Hip STM
  • 4:37 - Cross Friction Massage
  • 5:23 - Ischemic Compression
  • 6:39 - Adductors
  • 9:10 - Posterior Lateral Hip Anatomy
  • 11:03 - Cross Friction Massage
  • 12:08 - Pin & Stretch
  • 12:45 - Glute Medius Massage
  • 17:17 - Is Massage Worthless?

Rub a dub-dub!

- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS

Show Notes / Relevant Articles:

Want to earn some CEUs for physical therapists and physical therapy assistants?  Click HERE to sign up for FPF "Insiders Academy" for just a dollar. You'll gain access to 100+ webinars, e-books and complete guides.  Plus, you'll get private access to the "Insiders" community where you can have all of your questions answered by me.  

Looking for other ways to support me that are 100% free?

  • Like, comment and share on youtube, facebook and instagram 
  • Leave a 5-star review on apple podcasts

Thank you!

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS

References: 

  1. Ishøi L, Nielsen MF, Krommes K, Husted RS, Hölmich P, Pedersen LL, Thorborg K. Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and labral injuries: grading the evidence on diagnosis and non-operative treatment-a statement paper commissioned by the Danish Society of Sports Physical Therapy (DSSF). Br J Sports Med. 2021 Nov;55(22):1301-1310. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104060. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34531185.
  2. Runge N, Aina A, May S. The Benefits of Adding Manual Therapy to Exercise Therapy for Improving Pain and Function in Patients With Knee or Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Oct;52(10):675-A13. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2022.11062. Epub 2022 Jul 26. PMID: 35881705.
  3. Cibulka MT, Bloom NJ, Enseki KR, Macdonald CW, Woehrle J, McDonough CM. Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits-Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2017. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Jun;47(6):A1-A37. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.0301. PMID: 28566053.
  4. Monselli C, Bianco Prevot L, Accetta R, Tronconi LP, Bolcato V, Basile G. State of the Art in Rehabilitation Strategies After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2024 Nov 30;13(23):7302. doi: 10.3390/jcm13237302. PMID: 39685760; PMCID: PMC11642080.
  5. Hando BR, Gill NW, Walker MJ, Garber M. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes following a standardized protocol of orthopedic manual physical therapy and exercise in individuals with osteoarthritis of the hip: a case series. J Man Manip Ther. 2012 Nov;20(4):192-200. doi: 10.1179/2042618612Y.0000000013. PMID: 24179327; PMCID: PMC3500131.