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Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent joint conditions in adults over 50, yet many people miss the early signs \u2013 often brushing off stiffness or pain until it starts to disrupt daily life.<\/p>\n
With an ageing population, hip-related issues are on the rise and exercise is crucial for managing these issues and maintaining overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n
A recent study involving 211 participants, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, found that those who took part in weekly physiotherapist-led education sessions followed by 30 minutes of static cycling reported significant improvements in function after eight weeks.<\/p>\n
To better understand this widespread condition, we spoke to specialist hip physiotherapist Mehmet Gem<\/a>, founder and director of The Hip Physio<\/a>. He shared some key insights on what hip osteoarthritis is, the key symptoms to look out for and suggested some exercises to try.<\/p>\n What is hip osteoarthritis?<\/p>\n \u201cHip osteoarthritis is a condition in the hip that is multifaceted in how it develops, but essentially it is a process that causes a reduction in joint space, subsequently leading to progressive pain and dysfunction,\u201d explains Gem. \u201cIt used to be just referred to as wear and tear but as we understand more we know that this is not the sole cause.\u201d<\/p>\n What are the main symptoms?<\/p>\n \u201cThe main symptom is often pain in the groin which can spread and manifest or refer into the thigh and as far as the knee,\u201d explains Gem. \u201cAlongside the pain, people often find they lose range of movement. For example, they can\u2019t sit cross-legged, put shoes and socks on or even wash their feet or cut their toenails.\u201d<\/p>\n As symptoms and pain worsen, often these functional impairments get worse.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has a tremendous impact on quality of life and mental health for those that have worse stage levels due to severe pain and loss of hip function,\u201d says Gem. \u201cAs a result it can have a severe impact of emotional wellbeing. When quality of life is poor I would suggest seeking an opinion from an orthopaedic consultant.\u201d<\/p>\n What are the risk factors?<\/p>\n While the exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known, there are several factors that can increase your risk of developing this condition.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, increase joint wear can increase risk and is common when someone is obese as greater forces are put through their joints,\u201d explains Gem. \u201cSportspeople are also at some risk (dependent on their type of sport) and certain occupations have higher prevalence rates such as farmers, physical workers and people in the military.\u201d<\/p>\n Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and hip dysplasia are known predisposing conditions that can increase the risk of developing hip arthritis, adds the hip specialist.<\/p>\n What are some effective pain management strategies for hip osteoarthritis?<\/p>\n