3 Techniques for the Treatment and Management of Hip Arthritis
When arthritis causes joints to become inflamed, the result is often pain, uncomfortable stiffness, swelling and instability. This condition can decrease a person’s ability to move and perform daily functions and when it comes to hip arthritis specifically, the pain and lack of mobility can be significant.
Your hips are the weight-bearing center of your body, which means that they are subjected to an incredible amount of stress on a daily basis. All of the stress builds up to wear and tear over the course of your lifetime, which can result in the degenerative joint disease referred to as osteoarthritis. Hip arthritis can be very painful, and frequently leads to serious problems with walking, and often necessitates a full hip replacement.
Musculoskeletal specialists can often help patients to manage their hip arthritis, reducing their pain and improve their ability to walk. Some of the ways that patients can manage this condition are included below.
3 Techniques for the Treatment and Management of Hip Arthritis
- Low Impact Exercise: All aspects of the musculoskeletal system benefit from regular physical activity. Arthritis of the hips, however, can become aggravated through high-impact activities such as running or aerobics. Instead, patients should focus on low impact activities that encourage range of motion such as yoga, water aerobics, swimming and bicycling. It is important for anyone suffering from hip arthritis to continue some physical activity since lack of activity causes the muscles around the joint to become weak. Also, failing to use the impacted joints can lead to worse pain, increased stiffness and further lack of mobility.
- Weight Loss: Because the hips are placed under so much pressure, a person who is over an ideal weight will experience more pain and worsening of the arthritis more than a patient who has a more ideal body weight. Orthopedic specialists may recommend losing weight as a means of protecting the hip joints by relieving the extra, unnecessary pressure that worsens the condition.
- Medication Therapy: The pain of hip arthritis can be effectively managed using a variety of medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories or more potent options depending on the severity of the condition and other conditions that may be in play. Caution must be used when prescription or over the counter anti-inflammatories are taken. Blood pressure and kidney and liver function must be monitored by your physician.
If you are suffering from pain in your hips, it’s time to seek the professional medical help of a musculoskeletal specialist at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Arthritis can be properly diagnosed during an office visit that will include a medical history review, a physical exam and an x-ray. If your condition requires the consideration of hip replacement, we can educate and prepare you for that procedure. Either way, our doctors will assess your particular situation, make a diagnosis and suggest a recommended treatment plan. You can rest assured, knowing that you will be seen through each step of the way by the region’s top hip specialists.
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