A reader sent in the following question:
I was recently running and felt a sharp pain around my hip, I think in my hip flexors…what’s wrong with me?
One of the initial steps and possibly the most difficult one is to diagnose an injury based on the type of Hip Flexor pain you are experiencing. This article should help you identify what kind of pain you are feeling and then help you understand why the pain is occurring.
Types of Hip Flexor Pain
- Swelling/Inflammation: Usually associated with the tendons attached to the Hip Flexor muscles, swelling can cause significant pain as the tendon will start to interact with other internal body parts it is not supposed to.
- Intense/Sharp: A sharp pain usually occurs after a minor or partial muscle tear in the region. Typically the pain is felt when you lift your leg vertically, but it can also be felt anytime you bend at the hip.
It is very important to look into the specific kind of Hip Flexor pain you are experiencing since each type has a different treatment.

