Hip Arthritis Exercises and Pain Relief

There’s always something to be said about arthritis. In fact, on a daily basis, studies are being done to find more treatment and more ways to improve the condition of those who suffer from the said bone disease. But as uncommon as it sounds, hip arthritis exists and it causes viable pain.

As we all know, arthritis is a bone condition that causes inflammation on the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis, it commonly causes inflammation on the joints of the fingers, the knees and the feet. In hip arthritis, the typical culprit is osteoarthritis. It is an arthritis that wears the cartilages of the joint. Throughout the progressive wearing away, the cartilage that protects the hips disappears and the bone becomes exposed inside the joint.

It is a common disease in people who are 50 years old and above. People who are overweight and those who have lost weight abruptly are also more likely to develop hip arthritis. This is mainly because the hip is a dependent bone and takes the body’s weight. Studies have also found that people whose family members were diagnosed with hip arthritis is more predisposed to the disease compared to those who haven’t. In addition, trauma and injuries around the bones of the hips may also lead to the bone condition.

Hip arthritis is characterized by a sudden pain that commonly appears during activities. There is also an obvious limit in the person’s range of motion which can be manifested as a usual limping walk because of stiffness of the hips. Normally, these signs and symptoms progress as the disease progresses. However, there are also reports that the manifestations of hip arthritis change as the weather changes from cold to warm seasons. In fact, there are months when patients seem to have less manifestations compared to other months.

The treatment for this bone condition initially begins with pain relief and getting rid of factors that may exacerbate hip pain, if possible. Pursuing weight loss, walking aids such as canes and crutches, physical therapy and activity modification are essential parts of the treatment regimen to lessen the course of pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid are usually given to alleviate pain.

Several exercises can be done to help strengthen the musculoskeletal system and prevent muscle atrophy. The most recommended exercises include water aerobics and swimming, especially for treating and preventing injury. Water decreases the density of the bones thus you can move around without inducing stress on your joints.

Other recommended exercises are pilates, cycling and walking. However, these should be done with the consent of your doctor or physical therapist in tow so as to make sure that you do not overexert your joints. For patients whose hip discomfort is unresponsive to physical therapy and other treatments, hip surgeries are done. Usually, parts of the hip joints are replaced with metal and plastic counterparts.

The incidence of hip arthritis continues to increase. Fortunately, there are many ways to ease the pain and discomfort associated with the disease.