Osteoarthritis in any joints of the body is a “wear-and-tear” condition that can develop from the breakdown of cartilage in these joints. Osteoarthritis is distinct from rheumatoid arthritis, which is a disease that involves more components of the body than simply the joints.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hip OA?
If you have hip osteoarthritis, you will likely notice persistent pain or aching in your hip joints. Like osteoarthritis in other parts of the body, you will also notice swelling and stiffness in the affected areas. This causes a decrease in your overall mobility and flexibility. You may even notice that your hip joint makes a sound when you move it. This is caused by one bone rubbing too close to another after the cartilage has been worn away. It may hurt to move or even walk. In severe cases, the joint may develop bone spurs or become deformed.
What Causes Hip OA?
While the true causes are not directly known, many factors play a role in both the development and the severity of hip osteoarthritis. Persistent stress applied to the hip joints can cause this condition to develop over time. This stress is generally caused by being overweight or through an injury involving the hip. Repetitive activities that involve moving the hip may strain the joint and lead to hip OA. As the condition gets worse over time, age is also a factor. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis than men.
What Can Be Done To Prevent Hip OA?
Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid unnecessary strain on your hip joints can be effective in warding off hip OA. Regular exercise that involves the hip joints will also help you to strengthen your hip muscles, which will take some of the burdens of movement off of your joints.
Treatment Available For Hip OA
Fortunately, there are several treatments available if you are diagnosed with hip OA. These range from low-impact physical therapy to surgical interventions. If your condition is not severe, then your doctor may recommend some light exercise including yoga, tai chi, or even swimming, which will improve your range of motion.
Orthopedic devices are great for improving mobility and allowing you to complete your daily activities and tasks. For example, the use of a cane to take stress and weight off of the affected hip can be effective.
If your hip OA is severe, then your physician may recommend hip replacement surgery. This involves replacing part of your hip joint with a metal ball to reduce your pain and restore mobility. Hip resurfacing is another surgical option that replaces the surfaces of your hip joint with metal while keeping your femur in place.
If you suspect that you have hip OA, arrange a consultation your health care provider as soon as possible to learn more about what treatment options will be effective for you.If you are already being treated for hip OA or in the recovery process Synergy Orthopedics is here to help. Get in touch with our team at Synergy Orthopedics for high-quality orthopedic braces to alleviate back pain and facilitate your healing and the recovery process.
Accreditation
Synergy Orthopedics is a Medicare accredited company, as well as, independently accredited by the BOC Accreditation. At Synergy we take great pride in our Highly Rated Status as an accredited provider.
