Osteoarthritis (Hip)

Hip osteoarthritis is a natural degenerative process where the cartilage that spaces a joint starts to change and thin over time, meaning the bones get closer together, and can occur in any joint in the body. Osteoarthritis is a part of the normal ageing process and is most commonly seen in people over the age of 40.

Hip Osteoarthritis can also be impacted by your occupation or your sporting hobbies. Past injury/trauma to your hip such as a fracture, dislocation, or infection can also impact osteoarthritis. 

The most common symptoms of Hip OA are: 

• Limited function in daily tasks
• Pain in the groin, side of the hip and/or down the front of the thigh to the knee
• Reduced movement of the hip joint  
• Pain is worse with or after activity 
• Stiffness worse with inactivity 
• Symptoms can flare or settle with changing seasons
• Increased symptoms when putting shoes or socks on the affected side
• Walking or standing for longer periods
• Increased symptoms getting in or out of the car

Diagnosis is usually made from a consultation with your Health Care Professional, involving a detailed history of the onset of symptoms, current pattern of symptoms and your current functional ability.

An X-Ray is generally not needed to confirm osteoarthritis. One may be performed if the Health Care Professional needs further information to finalise the diagnosis or if surgery is being considered.

The primary aim of treatment is to help manage your pain. This allows you to move more and help you return to normal activities sooner. Initial treatment therefore is aimed at pain control. This might involve pain medication, or the use of heat or cold treatments.

Once your pain is under control, working on the movement and strength of your hip is what will help long term.  

You can help to reduce pain, ease stiffness, strengthen your muscles and improve overall general fitness by keeping active. Below are some basic exercises specific to your hip to get you started.

The Osteoarthritis Self-management and Independent-living Support (OASIS) group is a programme with appropriate and progressive exercise at its core, alongside key education about OA to heighten your confidence in self-management through learning and understanding to create a holistic approach to treatment. This programme is now available in the community in certain locations. Please speak to a Health Care Professional to find out if the OASIS Group is available in your area.

Download the OASIS guidebook for help and advice on managing osteoarthritis.

Please see the video below for more information about OASIS in the community.

It is normal to experience some discomfort when doing exercises, and individuals may start at different points. Pain should not increase excessively during or immediately after the activity. Discomfort should return to pre-activity levels 24-48 hours after the activity has finished.

The number (reps) and frequency (sets) of exercises suggested here are a guide, and should be performed to your personal tolerable pain levels. This means repetitions will vary between individuals and you should only go as far as is reasonably comfortable for you.

Standing hip flexion

Stand straight holding a chair or table. Bend your affected leg, bringing your knee up in front of you. Control the movement as you lower back down. Repeat the movement, making sure you do not lean your body, or hitch your pelvis up as you lift your leg.

Standing hip extension

Hold on to a table or work surface and stand straight. Keep your affected leg straight as you lift it out behind you, then slowly return it to the start position. Make sure you keep your body upright throughout this exercise.

Standing hip abduction

Stand straight, holding a chair or table for balance. Keeping your affected leg straight, slowly move it out to the side. Control the leg as you bring it back in to the starting position, and then repeat the movement. Make sure you do not lean your body or hitch your hip up as you move your leg.

Unless you have a serious injury or have sudden continuous severe pain, you can usually treat your hip pain without having to see your doctor. If after 2 weeks of treating yourself you feel the pain isn’t any better or is worsening, you should see a Health Care Professional.

You should also see a Health Care Professional if you:

• Have pain that doesn’t show any signs of improvement, within a couple of weeks of self help
• Have pain that has rapidly deteriorated or suddenly worsened despite self help
• Have pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in your legs or feet
• Develop sudden stiffness in the hip resulting in a complete loss of movement 
• Are noticing changes to your balance or walking pattern 
• Are feeling clumsy or are falling more often
• Have a history of inflammatory arthritis, immuno-suppression, cancer, Tuberculosis (TB), drug abuse, AIDS or other infection
• Feel unwell, have a fever, or unexplained weight loss
• Are experiencing significant and regular changes to your usual sleeping pattern
• Have a history of recent injury (e.g. from a road traffic accident or a fall) or a history of hip surgery
• Have a new and visible deformed or misshapen hip or leg

If you do not have any of the above, you may be able to effectively self-manage your condition

Decision support tools, also called patient decision aids, support shared decision making by making treatment, care and support options explicit. They provide evidence-based information about the associated benefits/harms and help patients to consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.

These decision support tools are designed to support shared decision making between people and a clinician. People may find they are useful before, during or between consultations depending on their care pathway.