Introduction
If your hip feels stiff when you get out of the car or if you find yourself limping after sitting too long, it may not just be a sign of getting older. If your groin, thigh, or even knee aches, it’s crucial to understand that these are not random occurrences. This is your hip asking for attention and understanding this early can be pivotal in managing your health.
What Is Hip Arthritis Really?
Hip arthritis is not merely ‘wear and tear.’ It involves the breakdown and irritation of the cartilage that cushions your hip joint. This cartilage is supposed to allow smooth, pain-free movement. When it starts wearing down, the joint loses valuable padding and lubrication, leading to a host of symptoms:
- Pain with movement
- Stiffness that restricts flexibility
- Limited range of motion hindering daily activities
- Grinding or clicking (crepitus) sensation
- Difficulty bending or walking normally
Interestingly, hip arthritis pain doesn’t always stay confined to the hip. You might feel it in your groin, thigh, buttocks, or even your knee. This is known as referred pain and can be quite perplexing.
Why Does It Happen?
The most common type of hip arthritis is osteoarthritis, characterized by a gradual cartilage breakdown over time. While it typically affects people over 55, there is an increasing trend of younger individuals experiencing these symptoms due to:
- Repetitive stress from sports or certain occupations
- Extra body weight increasing joint load
- Old injuries affecting joint health
- Poor hip alignment such as dysplasia or impingement
- Family history of arthritis
There’s also inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joint. This usually affects multiple joints simultaneously, complicating the condition further.
What Makes It Worse?
If you already have hip arthritis, certain habits can accelerate its progression:
- High-impact running and jumping which put excess stress on the joints
- Heavy lifting without proper mechanics can exacerbate pain
- Repetitive deep squats and twisting that increase wear
- Sitting all day (especially crossing your legs) which can stiffen the joint
Remember, motion is medicine—but it needs to be the right kind of motion to benefit your joints.
How We Actually Treat It
At Sports Performance, we prioritize a conservative treatment approach instead of jumping straight to surgery. Our treatment progression includes:
Step 1: Reduce Stress on the Joint
This involves weight management, activity modification, and sometimes using an assistive device to alleviate pressure from the joint.
Step 2: Control Inflammation
Utilizing heat, ice, targeted mobility work, and in some cases, injections like cortisone or Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.
Step 3: Restore Strength and Stability
This is the most crucial phase of rehabilitation. If your glutes, deep hip stabilizers, and core are not functioning optimally, your joint bears the excess load.
Step 4: Educate and Empower
Understanding that arthritis is manageable and not a life sentence is key. We aim to empower our patients with knowledge and strategies to manage their condition effectively.
Is It Curable?
While there is no true ‘cure’ for osteoarthritis, symptoms can be dramatically reduced through conservative treatment. If necessary, modern hip replacements are extremely reliable and can last decades, offering a significant quality of life improvement. However, many people do not fully explore the non-surgical options available that can significantly alleviate symptoms.
Join Our Hip Arthritis Class
That’s why we’re hosting our Hip Arthritis Class on February 25. If you’re 45+, worried about long-term joint damage, or want to stay active without relying on pain medication, this class is designed for you. We’ll cover:
- How to determine if your hip pain is arthritis
- What actually slows progression and preserves joint function
- Which exercises help—and which can make it worse
- When injections or surgery are appropriate options
- A step-by-step action plan for managing arthritis
You don’t have to accept stiffness as your new normal. Let’s get you moving the right way.
Reserve your spot and take control of your hip before it controls you. As always, we hope this helps! For any questions and all suggestions, please email us at TeamSP@SportsPerformancePT.com.
Get in Touch with Us
If you want to know more information about how we can help, get started with a FREE discovery phone call. Click here to schedule.
Interested in Physical Therapy at Sports Performance? Visit our website for more information.
Want more from Sports Performance? Watch our Podcast episode 141 about How to Improve your Long Term Health and Wellness.
Dr. Chris, Physical Therapist
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