Pinch in the hip crease
Worst at the bottom of a squat or when rising from a low couch, and easier once the hip straightens.
Front of hip pain is a symptom, and it can have more than one source. People describe a pinch in the hip crease when they squat or an ache in the groin after a run. Others feel a sharp catch swinging a leg into the car.
The muscles most often involved are the iliopsoas and rectus femoris, the main hip flexors, and the adductor longus on the inner thigh. The hip joint capsule, the tissue wrapping the joint, can also get irritable when the hip is loaded deep in flexion and rotation. A nearby nerve can add burning or sharpness that spreads into the front of the thigh.
I use dry needling, a form of acupuncture, to ease the hip flexors and adductors that reproduce your pain. Because the femoral nerve travels in the groove between the psoas and the iliacus, releasing those muscles gives it more room. If the femoral nerve itself has become irritable, I use electroacupuncture. Fine needles go near the nerve with a gentle current to help change how it is signaling.
Most people with front of hip pain have had imaging, anti inflammatory medication and a stretching or strengthening program. That often comes through physical therapy or chiropractic care. Those can help. Imaging, though, does not show a tight hip flexor or an irritated nerve. Stretching a guarded muscle also rarely calms it for long. In New York, PTs and chiropractors cannot dry needle, so needling the muscle directly may be the one approach you haven’t had.
I ask which movements bring the pain on, what changed in your routine beforehand, and where in a workout it begins. Then the exam:
I work alongside orthopedists, sports medicine doctors and physical therapists. If my findings point back toward one of them, I’ll let you know and share the details.
Not always. Labral changes and impingement shaped bone are common on scans, including in people with no pain. Front of hip pain can also come from tight hip flexors, a sensitive adductor attachment or an irritated nerve. I match your pain to what reproduces it on exam before drawing conclusions.
An MRI is good at ruling out serious structural problems. It doesn’t show muscle tone, a tender tendon attachment or a nerve that has become sensitive. Those are what I look for with my hands and with movement testing.
It’s usually where I start. Needling the hip flexors and adductors that reproduce your pain also eases the squeeze on the nerve running between them. When that nerve stays sensitive, I add electroacupuncture. Tight muscle and a reactive nerve tend to show up together here, so most plans combine both.
It’s possible, and only a doctor can diagnose a hernia. Some adductor and abdominal wall pain mimics one. Get urgent care for a new groin bulge, sudden swelling or severe testicular pain. The same goes for fever, suddenly being unable to bear weight, or pain after a hard fall or impact.
Usually, with some changes. I’ll often suggest adjusting squat depth, stance width, sprint speed or volume so the hip stays calm while it recovers. A movement that keeps producing sharp pain, or a sorer groin the next morning, is a sign to scale it back.
No. If you already have scans or reports, bring them and I’ll read them alongside my exam. If the exam raises a question that imaging could answer, I’ll suggest raising it with your doctor.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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