Medical Review: Dr. Gerald Mastaw, MD – Board-Certified Physician
Last Updated: October 2025
What Is Hip Pain and Why Does It Happen?
The hip joint is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing structures, a ball-and-socket design built to handle movement, rotation, and constant pressure.
When injury, inflammation, or degeneration affects this area, even simple activities such as walking, sitting, or standing can become painful.
Common Causes of Hip Pain
- Osteoarthritis or cartilage wear-and-tear
- Tendonitis or bursitis from overuse
- Hip labral tears or impingement (FAI)
- Muscle or ligament strains
- Post-surgical or traumatic injuries
Typical Symptoms
- Deep aching or stiffness in the groin or outer hip
- Pain that worsens with movement or prolonged sitting
- Clicking, catching, or instability
- Sharp or radiating pain down the thigh
- Decreased flexibility and weakness
Whether the pain is sudden or chronic, hip dysfunction can limit mobility and impact overall quality of life.
Conventional Treatment Approaches
Traditional care focuses on symptom control and preserving joint function.
Standard Therapies May Include:
- Physical therapy, stretching, and low-impact exercise
- Anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medications
- Corticosteroid injections for short-term relief
- Weight-management or posture correction
- Assistive devices such as canes or braces
For more advanced degeneration, orthopedic procedures may be recommended:
- Arthroscopic repair for labral tears or impingement
- Hip resurfacing or total hip replacement surgery
While these methods can improve symptoms, they often come with downtime, surgical risk, and limited regenerative benefit.
Regenerative Medicine: A Natural Approach to Hip Repair
Regenerative medicine focuses on restoring tissue health and joint function by activating the body’s own repair mechanisms.
For hip-related conditions, the two leading biologic options are:
- Stem Cell Therapy using umbilical-cord-derived or bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that may help repair cartilage, tendons, and soft tissue.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) a concentrated solution of a patient’s own platelets that release natural growth factors to support healing.
Potential Benefits of Regenerative Therapies
- Decrease inflammation within the joint capsule
- Stimulate repair of cartilage and connective tissue
- Improve mobility, flexibility, and joint stability
- Support pain relief without surgery
- Delay or possibly prevent the need for joint replacement
Note: Stem cell and PRP therapies for hip pain are not yet FDA-approved and remain investigational, but multiple peer-reviewed studies support their safety and therapeutic potential.
Recent Clinical Studies: Regenerative Medicine for Hip Pain
2025 – PRP Outperforms Hyaluronic Acid for Hip Osteoarthritis
Title: Comparative Efficacy of PRP Injection vs. Ultrasound-Guided Hyaluronic Acid Injection in Hip OA Rehabilitation
Journal: PMC – Full Text
Summary:
In this 150-patient study, participants receiving ultrasound-guided PRP injections experienced greater improvements in pain (VAS), stiffness, and function (WOMAC, Harris Hip Scores) than those treated with standard hyaluronic acid.
The PRP group saw statistically significant reductions in pain and disability, confirming PRP’s advantage in managing hip osteoarthritis symptoms.
2024 – Wharton’s Jelly Allograft Reduces Hip OA Pain
Title: Retrospective Evaluation of Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Allografts in Hip Osteoarthritis
Journal: MDPI – Journal of Clinical Medicine – Full Text
Summary:
Sixty-nine patients with hip osteoarthritis received Wharton’s Jelly (umbilical-cord-derived extracellular matrix) injections.
Within 90 days, pain levels dropped by ~31%; after a second injection, scores improved by ~45%.
Over 78% of patients reported meaningful pain relief, with no major adverse events.
The study concluded that cord-derived biologic injections are safe and may significantly improve comfort and hip function.
2022 – Cord-Derived PRP Provides Faster Relief Than Autologous PRP
Title: Umbilical Cord PRP vs. Autologous PRP for Hip Osteoarthritis
Journal: MDPI – Journal of Clinical Medicine – Full Text
Summary:
One hundred patients with hip OA received either umbilical-cord-derived PRP (C-PRP) or autologous PRP (A-PRP) over three weekly sessions.
Both groups improved, but C-PRP produced faster and greater pain relief at two months and better hip function at one year — especially in early-stage arthritis (Tönnis I–II).
No serious side effects were observed, supporting cord-derived PRP as a safe, effective biologic option for early hip degeneration.
Is Regenerative Care Right for Your Hip Pain?
Regenerative therapy may be a good option if:
- You have mild-to-moderate hip arthritis or injury
- You’ve tried conventional treatments without lasting relief
- You wish to stay active and avoid surgery
- You prefer a natural, biologic approach to joint healing
At Stemedix, our team evaluates your history, imaging, and goals to determine whether PRP or stem-cell-based regenerative therapy could complement your current orthopedic care plan.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Stem cell and PRP therapies are investigational and not FDA-approved for hip pain.
Individual outcomes vary. Always consult a licensed medical provider before pursuing any new treatment.
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