6 types of hip arthritis treatment

hip arthritis treatment

If you have an ache in your hip, it can make you wince in pain with every step. Arthritis can develop in nearly every joint in the body, including the hip. When you have hip arthritis, it can interfere with your daily activities and have a negative impact on your overall quality of life.

Arthritis is one of the most common conditions for people to develop, as it’s the leading cause of disability in America. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean that you have to grin and bear the pain. When you’re ready to alleviate your hip arthritis symptoms, there are plenty of treatment options that you can explore. 

We’ll discuss what hip arthritis is before discussing the types of hip arthritis treatment options that you can try out, including physical therapy

The basics of hip arthritis

Arthritis refers to inflammation of a joint that gradually develops over time. It affects nearly one-fourth of the U.S. adult population, adding up to more than 50 million people. When someone says that they have hip arthritis, it’s an umbrella term that can cover several types of arthritis that can develop in the hip joint. 

The most common types of arthritis that can affect the hip joint are:

  • Osteoarthritis — A degenerative joint disease that causes the cartilage tissue to break down.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis — An autoimmune, inflammatory disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joint tissue.
  • Psoriatic arthritis — An inflammatory disease that can affect the joints of people with psoriasis.

All types of hip arthritis can cause symptoms including:

  • Pain that decreases during activity.
  • Difficulty walking.
  • Stiffness.
  • Clicking sounds during movement.

6 types of hip arthritis treatment

Everyone experiences arthritis in the hip differently. While some people experience constant pain and stiffness, others just have flare-ups every now and then. But regardless of how often you have the symptoms, it’s always helpful to learn hip arthritis treatments that will help alleviate the ache. 

Some of these hip arthritis treatments will require the assistance of a health care provider, such as a physician or physical therapist.

Here are six types of hip arthritis treatment that are worth testing:

  1. Assistive devices — Arthritis in the hip can make it difficult to walk, or cause you to walk with a limp. Your health care provider may recommend that you use an assistive device to help you move around, such as a cane. It reduces the stress placed on the hip joint as you walk as well as provides additional stability.
  2. Medication — Ask your health care provider about taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs can temporarily alleviate your arthritis pain. Common oral NSAIDs that can help reduce your symptoms include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.
  3. Injections — For persistent or worsening hip arthritis, your provider may recommend an injection of corticosteroids or steroids. These are anti-inflammatory medications that can help to alleviate pain and swelling. Many people experience immediate and long-lasting relief.
  4. Therapeutic exercises — A physical therapist can walk you through safe and effective exercises that will help reduce your hip pain as well as improve the joint’s function. Exercises that strengthen the surrounding muscles can increase support for the joint and absorb shock during movement. Stretching exercises can increase your range of motion.
  5. Soft tissue mobilization — A common manual therapy technique for arthritis is soft tissue mobilization. It involves a physical therapist using their hands in massage-like motions to feel for scar tissue. Then they can gently break up the tight tissue to release the tension that’s contributing to your pain. 
  6. Electrical stimulation — This physical therapy modality involves transmitting electrical currents to your hip to reduce pain and improve the joint’s range of motion. There are different modes of electrical stimulation, including pre-modulated, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential. Your physical therapist will determine which mode may work best for your specific needs.

Whatcom Physical Therapy can walk you through different types of hip arthritis treatment

Your hip function is required for nearly every movement that you make. When your hip arthritis impacts your overall quality of life, you don’t have to just wait for it to fade on its own. It’s important to explore the treatment options that can help to ease the pain and increase your mobility so that you can handle your everyday responsibilities. 

At Whatcom Physical Therapy, we can make a personalized treatment plan that will help alleviate your hip arthritis symptoms with options like guided exercises, manual therapy and electrical stimulation.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.Â