What is hip osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis is wear and tear in the joint, here the hip. The smooth cartilage that cushions the ball and socket thins over time, so the joint becomes stiff, painful and less flexible. There is a short entry on osteoarthritis in our glossary.
Osteoarthritis is common with age. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 528 million people lived with it worldwide in 2019 [1]. About 73% of people with osteoarthritis are over 55 [1].
What are the signs, and what do families miss?
The pain is felt in the groin or the front of the thigh, and sometimes down to the knee. It can ache after a walk and feel stiff after sitting still, then loosen up as the hip warms.
Families may notice other things first. A parent takes longer with socks and shoes, cuts toenails less frequently, takes shorter steps, or limps a little by evening.
Some stop sitting on the floor at family gatherings or at the temple. Others avoid the squat toilet or step into the car by lifting the leg with their hands. These small changes are worth a kind question.
Who is it most likely to affect?
It is most likely in adults past middle age. It is also more likely after an earlier hip injury or a childhood hip problem, or after years of extra weight or heavy work. It can run in families.
Hip pain at any age deserves an assessment, because other conditions can feel the same. See our page on hip pain for the wider picture.
What does a physiotherapist check first?
We listen to the story, then watch how the hip moves in real tasks. The hip looks stiffer when you try to cross the legs or turn the foot inward, so we check those directions.
We look at:
- how you stand up, walk and climb stairs.
- how far the hip bends and turns on each side.
- strength in the hip, buttock and thigh.
- balance and the risk of falling.
- the lower back and knee, which can be sore for related reasons.
If the signs point to something that needs a scan or an orthopaedic opinion, we say so and help you with the next step.
What helps hip osteoarthritis?
Exercise and education are the main treatment. WHO lists exercise, weight management, education and, for severe joint damage, joint replacement as management for osteoarthritis [2].
In practice, a plan can include:
- strengthening for the hip, buttock and thigh.
- movement practice for stairs, sit-to-stand and getting into a car.
- hands-on techniques to ease stiffness.
- a walking stick or frame where it helps. Read our walking aids guide.
- pacing advice for walks and long days.
Recovery varies between people, so we agree goals with you and review them at each visit.
What can I do this week?
Keep the hip moving, but spread the effort across the day.
- Walk for short spells twice a day on level ground, such as the covered walkway outside the house.
- Sit on a firm chair with arms, and raise low seats with a cushion.
- Put on socks and shoes sitting down, with the foot on a small stool.
- If you use a stick, hold it in the hand opposite the sore hip.
- Do gentle sit-to-stand from a sturdy chair a few times, three times a day.
- Warm the hip with a warm towel before exercise if it feels tight.
Stop an exercise if the pain is sharper for more than a few hours afterwards.
When should I see a doctor first?
Go to the emergency department if the hip becomes very painful after a fall, or you cannot put weight on the leg. These can be signs of a fracture, and a hospital team should assess before any exercise.
See a doctor if the pain wakes you at night, the hip is red, hot or swollen, or you have a fever. If the pain stays severe despite treatment, ask your doctor about an orthopaedic review at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Fatimah Hospital or Pantai Hospital Ipoh.
What if a hip replacement is suggested?
A replacement is for severe joint damage when other care no longer controls the pain. It is a decision for you, your family and the surgeon.
Being stronger before surgery makes the first weeks easier, and we can help with that preparation. Afterwards, we guide the return to walking, stairs and daily tasks.
Read about hip replacement rehabilitation. Your surgeon’s instructions always come first.
How do home sessions in Ipoh work?
A physiotherapist visits your home, watches how you move around it and treats the hip where the problems happen: the bed, the bathroom, the front steps. Exercises are taught on your own chair and floor.
Visits across Ipoh are available now, and our Canning Garden centre near Fatimah Hospital is opening soon. Prices are quoted on WhatsApp after a short description.
Read how home physiotherapy works. If the knee hurts too, see knee osteoarthritis.