| Who is Most Affected? | | | | a minor ache, which can disappear with rest, |
| The hip joint is one of the most common locations for | | | | progressing to sharp pains when the joint is moved, |
| osteoarthritis, generally affecting people over the age | | | | ending in continuous pain. During the early stages the |
| of 50. Arthritis of the hip is more common in | | | | joints are often stiff at the beginning of the day, |
| overweight people, with studies showing them to have | | | | tending to improve with movement. However, as the |
| five times more chance of developing the condition | | | | condition worsens, a permanent loss of range of |
| due to the extra stress placed on their hips. There | | | | motion occurs. |
| may also be a genetic predisposition, where the joints | | | | Where is the Pain Felt? |
| become damaged simply because a person has | | | | Pain is frequently experienced in the groin and |
| inherited a body that wears in an unlucky manner. In | | | | because of this can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a |
| addition to injury or repetitive stress, poor bone | | | | hernia or strain in the groin. It is also possible to feel |
| alignment or the way you walk could also be another | | | | pain radiating down the front or inner thigh, in the |
| factor. | | | | buttocks or knee and sometimes up to the back. |
| Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Hip | | | | There can be pain when pivoting or rotating the hip |
| Osteoarthritis of the hip starts when a small amount of | | | | inward, bending, doing foot care and when getting in or |
| the cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip begins to | | | | out of a chair or car. Due to the overlapping nerve |
| erode, creating some local inflammation and eventually | | | | supply between the hip and knee, it is possible that |
| causing the bones of the joint to grind or rub together. | | | | knee pain may be the only symptom of arthritis of the |
| A major cause is traumatic injury to the hip and | | | | hip. |
| fractures to the bone around the joint. The trauma | | | | Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Hip |
| may be sudden and severe, such as a sporting | | | | Many doctors today believe that weight loss is |
| trauma, but is more commonly associated with | | | | probably one of the most important treatments. |
| overuse of the joint for occupational or sporting | | | | Normally the first lines of treatment for mild |
| purposes. In most individuals the indications do not | | | | osteoarthritis of the hip are pain relievers. Exercising is |
| appear until middle age, but the disease process starts | | | | very important as it helps to keep the hip joint limber |
| much earlier, with the condition accelerating following | | | | but must be ongoing to be effective on a long term |
| trauma to the hip joint. | | | | basis. Too much or too little activity can make the |
| What are the Most Common Symptoms? | | | | condition worse and a full range of motion is |
| Hip pain is the most universal symptom of hip arthritis | | | | encouraged to reduce stiffness. Because of its non |
| but it is possible to go for months and even years with | | | | weight bearing nature, swimming is highly beneficial and |
| the only symptom being loss of flexibility in the joint. | | | | water exercises are particularly suited for improving |
| The main symptoms of hip arthritis are pain, crackling, | | | | the hip's range of motion and promoting strength and |
| stiffness and inflammation of the affected joint. The | | | | flexibility in the muscles surrounding it. Hip replacement |
| rubbing together of the bones will sometimes cause | | | | surgery is sometimes suggested, and although in many |
| patients to feel or hear their hip creak when walking. | | | | cases it is usually an extremely successful operation, a |
| The level of pain varies and is described as mild, dull | | | | new joint has a limited life span and is usually a final |
| and aching or deep and throbbing. Usually it begins as | | | | resort. |