Hip Arthritis
If you are experiencing mild to severe pain in your hip associated with stiffness or swelling, arthritis might just be the cause.
It is important to contact a physical therapist immediately. Commencing treatment early eliminates the need for pain killers and surgery later on.
Physical therapy helps to relieve pain, strengthen the hip joint, and provide motion and flexibility, so you can get back to your normal activities in a short time.
Contact us today to get started.
Know Your Hip
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The femur (thigh bone) has a ball at its’s upper end which is called the femoral bone. The socket is part of the pelvis bone, and it’s called the acetabulum.
As the ball moves in the socket, this allows you to rotate your legs and move them sideways, forward, or backward.
The surfaces of the socket and the ball are covered with a tissue called the articular cartilage. This tissue prevents the bones from rubbing against each other.
Another thin tissue called the synovial membrane produces fluid that lubricates the cartilage and reduces friction.
A severe injury of the bicep tendons can also lead to surgery.
Arthritis is a degenerative disease that attacks the bones and damages the cartilage that makes the bones able to move easily without friction. The loss of cartilage results in the bones rubbing against each other, and this causes pain.
Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the hip joint is damaged, causing pain in the hip. This can range from mild to moderate to severe.
There are different types of hip arthritis. They include:
Osteoarthritis
This form of arthritis is common in persons from 40 years of age most especially women. It can also occur in younger people.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This happens when your immune system attacks your joints. The synovial membrane covering the joints becomes inflamed. This can damage the cartilage and lead to stiffness and pain in the hip
Post-traumatic arthritis
This begins to develop after a hip injury, where fractures and tears may damage the cartilage.
Risk Factors for Hip Arthritis
Several factors could increase the risk of hip arthritis. They include:
Age : older people are prone to hip osteoarthritis
Family history of osteoarthritis
Obesity
Improper formation of the hip joint during childhood
Infections
Hip injuries
Symptoms of Hip Arthritis
If you have arthritis of the hip, you might experience the following symptoms. Symptoms vary between individuals, and can begin as mild, but might worsen over time.
- Aching pain in your thigh or groin area, that might spread across the buttocks or knee
- Hip joint stiffness that makes it difficult to bend or walk
- Reduced range of motion of the hip that limits the ability to talk, or perform simple activities such as putting your socks or shoe on
- Squeaky or clicking noise in the hip joint during movement
You might notice symptoms in the morning, or after sitting for a long period of time – this is because of rest or inactivity.
Simple activities like walking or stretching exercises may relieve the pain in the beginning, but might not later on.
Hip Arthritis Diagnosis
At Polygon PT, a physical therapist will perform a physical examination on your hip, looking out for arthritis symptoms.
We will also require you to undergo imaging tests such as X-ray, or MRI-scan with your doctor as additional diagnostic methods.
Once the type and severity of arthritis are diagnosed, a treatment plan will be created for you.
Treatment for Hip Arthritis
There is no cure for arthritis, but different treatment methods can help relieve symptoms. It is important to seek help immediately when you suspect hip arthritis. This means treatment can begin, and surgery can be avoided.
Treatment for Hip Arthritis
There is no cure for arthritis, but different treatment methods can help relieve symptoms. It is important to seek help immediately when you suspect hip arthritis. This means treatment can begin, and surgery can be avoided.
Physical Therapy
For mild to moderate arthritis, physical therapy is effective for managing symptoms. Your physical therapist will create a custom treatment plan for you.
The plan is likely to include
Rest from activities making the pain worse
Weight loss to reduce pressure on the hip joint
manual therapy (gentle massages to relieve muscle spasm and pain)
therapeutic exercises (strength and motion)
Heat or cold on the affected area
These help to reduce pain and stiffness, and increase joint strength and mobility.
Surgery
For long-lasting and severe hip arthritis where physical therapy and other forms of treatment such as steroid injections and anti-inflammatory medication do not provide relief from pain, surgery is recommended.
Different types of hip arthritis surgery include:
- Hip replacement: where the damaged parts of the hip joints are replaced with artificial parts
- Hip fusion: where the pelvis and thighbone are connected to immobilize the joint. This will relieve pain but limit motion.
- Hip resurfacing: where the hip socket is replaced with a metal shell, but the head of the thigh bone is retained and capped with metal.
- Hip osteotomy: where either the hip socket or the thigh bone is cut and realigned to take the pressure off the joint.
After surgery, post-operative rehab is crucial to restoring strength and mobility to the hip. This is because surgery alone doesn’t guarantee that your hip will be flexible, and you can return to normal activities. Your post-operative rehab program will also be customized to suit your needs.
Get Started on Physical Therapy for Hip Arthritis Today
Beginning treatment early for arthritis eliminates the need for surgery and harmful painkillers. Even if you are considering having surgery or have had surgery, post-operative rehab is still important.
Our therapists at Polygon PT are excited to see how we can help relieve your pain and get you back to performing your normal activities in no distant time. Request an appointment with us today.
