Hip Pain After Running

[SOFcowgirl]

Hello. I just started running a few weeks ago. I love it, and I'm noticing a big improvement in my health.
However, without fail, my right hip hurts the day after I run. It's not a dull ache kind of hurt either, it's a lightly throbbing sharper pain. My hip doesn't bother me when I'm running, only the day after.
Any help here? I don't want to stop running. I have good shoes, but could maybe adding a gel insole or something of the like help absorb shock?

[Amy SF]

Does it feel like bone pain or muscle pain? It might be muscle pain if you're fairly new to a regular running regime. Do you do stretching exercises first to loosen the muscles a little?

Just to be sure, I think you should let your doctor know.

[SOFcowgirl]

I do stretch, before and after running, sometimes during my run if I feel tight. It doesn't feel like a muscle pain, at least not like any sore-ness I've ever felt before. It feels pretty far down in the hip, not necessarily in my muscles. Maybe a tendon? I'm hoping it's just because I'm new!

Obviously running can cause joint stress; just the principle of it seems like it can be jarring to joints. Is there any way to protect yourself against this?

[Kotegaeshi]

You need to make sure you're using really good running form. Do you know anyone who's an experienced runner who can run with you a few times? Get them to run behind you and check your form. This will be annoying for you.

I got my girlfriend to start running last year and she used to run slightly hunched over (tightening her lower back), flopping her feet down instead of rolling them (jarring knees and ankles) and slightly swinging her right leg out as she stepped forward (extra stress on one hip). I had to run behind her shouting "don't kick out your leg! roll your feet! shoulders back!" all the way round our run and it drove her crazy but she went from nothing to running a half marathon in 6 months without pain or injury yay!

There's SO many things you need to do correctly to run properly without these little niggly things hurting you.