I Have Pain When I Play Golf and Only One Side Hurts

Hip pain when you play golf that affects only one side can develop when repeated swings place more stress on that hip, leaving the muscles and tendons overworked and painful.

If your hip hurts on only one side when you play golf, the repeated swing may be putting more demand on that hip than it can comfortably handle. You may notice the pain during the backswing, as you rotate through impact, or during the follow-through, when the hip continues moving and turning. The problem can involve the hip flexors, gluteal muscles, or other tissues around the hip that are repeatedly working during your swing.

When those muscles become irritated or tired, they may not move as freely or comfortably during the next swing. A hip that already feels tight can become harder to rotate through, while an irritated tendon or muscle may become painful when it is repeatedly asked to work. This can make one-sided hip pain increasingly noticeable as you continue playing.

Your Golf Swing Puts Repeated Stress On One Hip

Repeated rotation and shifting during the swing can keep stressing the same hip.

Your hips have to rotate and move with the rest of your body during a golf swing, and one side can take a greater share of that work depending on your swing pattern. The hip flexors, glutes, and muscles around the pelvis help control that movement and can become strained when the same motion is repeated over and over. If one of those areas is already irritated or tight, rotating through the swing can bring the pain back each time.

The Hip Starts Hurting More As You Keep Swinging

Fatigue can make the painful hip less comfortable later in the round.

As you keep playing, the muscles around your hip have to repeat the same movements through dozens of swings. Once those muscles become tired, the affected hip may have a harder time moving comfortably through the same range, which can make the pain more noticeable later in the round. You may find that the hip feels manageable at the beginning but becomes increasingly sore or restricted after repeated swings.

Why Your Hip Pain Keeps Returning

Your hip has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your hip feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Hip Feel Better

Your hip starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does hip pain when I play golf affect only one side?

One-sided hip pain can develop when repeated swings place more stress on the muscles and tendons around one hip, especially when that side is already tight or irritated.

Why does my hip pain get worse during a round of golf?

Repeated swings can fatigue the muscles around the hip, making the pain more noticeable as you continue playing.

Can playing golf repeatedly cause pain in one hip?

Yes. Repeated rotation and movement during golf can repeatedly stress one hip and contribute to recurring pain during or after play.

Why does my hip hurt more after playing golf?

The muscles and tendons around your hip may become fatigued and more sensitive after repeated swings, making the pain more noticeable after the round.

When should one-sided hip pain from golf be checked?

Persistent, severe, or worsening hip pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional, especially if it interferes with normal movement.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.