Pain Symptom
Anterior Hip or Groin Pain
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
The pain sits in the crease at the front of your hip or deep in your groin. It pinches when you lift your knee, get in the car or sit for a while, and walking can make it ache. Front of hip pain can come from the joint, the hip flexors or nearby nerves, and sorting out which one is the first step to fixing it.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Front of Hip or Groin Pain
Anterior hip pain is felt at the front of the hip or in the groin crease. Common sources include the hip joint itself, through arthritis, labral tears or impingement, the hip flexor muscles such as the iliopsoas and rectus femoris, and the adductors on the inner side.
Nerves also run through this area. The femoral, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves can all produce front of hip or groin pain when irritated. In addition, trigger points in the iliopsoas, tensor fasciae latae and lower abdominal muscles can refer pain here. Long sitting keeps the hip flexors shortened, which is why many people feel pain after getting up.
Your physician may order imaging of the joint. Dr. Gordon assesses and treats the muscle and nerve sources, which are often involved even when the joint shows changes.
Front of Hip or Groin Pain at a Glance
Also called
Anterior hip pain, hip flexor pain, groin pain
Where it is felt
Front of the hip, groin crease, sometimes the front of the thigh
Possible sources
Hip joint, iliopsoas and hip flexors, adductors, groin nerves
Common aggravators
Lifting the knee, getting in the car, long sitting, walking, running
Who it affects
Runners, athletes, desk workers, people with hip arthritis or impingement
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Front of hip pain is often attributed to the joint alone. The hip flexors and groin nerves are frequently overlooked.
What routine testing is looking for
- Hip arthritis
- Labral tears
- Hip impingement
- Hernias
What often keeps symptoms going
- Iliopsoas tension and trigger points
- Rectus femoris and TFL tightness
- Adductor trigger points
- Irritated groin nerves
- Long sitting that shortens the hip flexors
These are found by combining joint tests with muscle and nerve assessment.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Pinching in the hip crease
A pinch when lifting your knee or bending.
Pain getting in the car
Pain lifting the leg into the car.
Pain after sitting
Stiffness and pain when standing after sitting.
Groin ache with walking
Aching that builds with walking.
Pain at the front of the thigh
Pain traveling down the front of the thigh.
Clicking or catching
Sometimes with joint involvement.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Hip flexor tension
A tight iliopsoas and rectus femoris cause front of hip pain and pinching.
Joint involvement
Arthritis, labral tears or impingement can cause groin pain, evaluated by your physician.
Adductor trigger points
Inner thigh muscles refer pain to the groin.
Nerve irritation
Groin nerves produce burning or sharp pain.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Front of Hip or Groin Pain
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your imaging, physician or physical therapy notes, medications and past treatments so he knows what has been ruled out and what has already been tried.
Hip joint screen
Tests for impingement, labral and joint sources.
Hip flexor and adductor assessment
Hands-on assessment of the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, TFL and adductors.
Nerve screen
Dr. Gordon checks the groin nerves for irritation.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Hip or groin pain with inability to bear weight
- Pain after a fall, especially if you are older or have osteoporosis
- A hot, red, swollen joint or fever
- Groin pain with nausea, vomiting or a painful bulge
- Severe pain at night that does not change with position
- Calf pain and swelling, which can signal a blood clot
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for front of hip and groin pain, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases the iliopsoas, hip flexors, adductors and TFL that drive front of hip pain.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture along the groin and femoral nerve pathways to calm irritation.
See all servicesBetween visits
Hip Plan & Team Coordination
Sitting and activity guidance, coordinated with your physician or physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"One week ago I walked into Dr. Anthony Gordon's office ... with chronic low back pain, bilateral hip pain, tingling along my left thigh, right knee pain and left shoulder pain. ... After one treatment I found myself standing straighter with decreased back, hip and knee pain and no tingling to my left thigh."
Estrellita Ammirati, Google Review
Front of Hip or Groin Pain Questions
Answers About Front of Hip or Groin Pain
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
It might be. The exam helps separate joint pain from muscle and nerve pain.
Yes, when performed by a trained provider with careful technique.
Sitting shortens the hip flexors, which then pull and pinch when you stand.
Yes. Dr. Gordon treats the muscle guarding that often accounts for much of the pain.
Many people improve within six to ten sessions.
Your physician should check for a hernia if there is a bulge.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For front of hip and groin pain, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Anterior Hip or Groin Pain
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and find the source of your front of hip pain.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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