Any sports physiotherapists here? Recurring glute med pain during badminton lunges and can't figure out the root cause
Hey all,
Wondering if any sports physiotherapists or movement specialists on here might be able to help me figure out what's going on with my hip.
TLDR: Active guy, heavy gym training, but getting gluteus medius pain specifically during forward lunging in badminton. Pain restricts movement in subsequent sessions and takes 1 to 2 weeks to recover. Looking for a sports physio, open to remote consultation.
A bit about me: I've been playing badminton for years (played it professionally as a kid) and train heavily in the gym (5+ years) with squats, hip thrusts, and a wide variety of leg work. I also run, do HIIT, and play other sports regularly. I'm not a sedentary person. I also have mild flat feet.
The issue: I experience pain in my gluteus medius, specifically in my left leg (as I am left-handed), during forward lunging movements in badminton, when picking up drop shots, and when reaching forward to the net. It seems very specific to that moment when I plant and reach. The same thing happens when I play padel and run forward to the net.
What makes it confusing is that I train consistently, so I shouldn't have a weak glute med in theory. I can play at a high level on day one after a long break, but the pain kicks in during the session, and by the next time I play, the movement is restricted, and I need 2-3 weeks before I can play properly again.
I suspect that it's less about raw weakness and more about how the muscle is being loaded in that specific movement, eccentric, end range, under deceleration, which gym training probably doesn't replicate. But I'd genuinely love a proper assessment rather than just guessing.
I'm based in a smaller city without great sports physio options, so I'm open to a remote consultation or video assessment if anyone offers that.
Feel free to DM me. Really appreciate any help.