Exercise Can Help Hip Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear arthritis that many people suffer from as they age. It happens over time as the protective layer or cartilage on the end of the bone starts to breakdown. This changes how the joint glides and can lead to stiffness and pain.  Pain from hip arthritis is typically felt in the groin and along the front of the thigh.

Hip arthritis is usually diagnosed through a physical exam in combination with X-rays. An arthritic hip will demonstrate less joint space as compared to a healthy hip due to the protective covering on the end of the bone being worn away.
Treatment options typically start conservative, but end stage disease often leads to hip replacements. Non-surgical treatments can include medication, steroid injections, and/or physical therapy.

​During an initial evaluation of a patient with arthritis, I am often asked the same question:  If I already have arthritis, can physical therapy really help?   The answer to this question is definitely yes.  I would like to break down the types of exercise you might be asked to perform in a therapy session and the exact reasons why this will help with your pain and function.

Range of Motion/Stretching
By increasing joint range of motion, we are trying to accomplish several things.

• A joint must go through its full range on a daily basis to remain healthy.  Without the full range of motion, a nutrient rich and internally lubricating fluid known as synovial fluid cannot properly circulate and coat the joint surface.  Over time, this will lead to stiffness and further joint deterioration.
• Stretching a painful muscle or muscle spasm can activate internal stretch receptors in the muscle tendon unit, which helps the muscle to relax.  It can also change the blood flow to the area or affect the input on the nerve which results in some pain relief.
• Stretching releases positive endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain which helps us to feel better.
• By improving joint range of motion, you can better perform tasks such as putting on your shoes and socks.

​Strengthening

• Strong muscles help keep joints stable and, as a result, decrease pain.
• By making your muscles stronger, it improves your ability to perform functional tasks such as climbing stairs or getting up out of a chair easier.

Endurance exercise

• Improves cardiovascular health.  This improves our overall health which leads to healthier joints and muscles.  It also decreases fatigue with daily tasks.
• Cardiovascular exercises such as riding a stationary bike help control weight which leads to less stress in the joints.
• Daily exercise has been proven to improve our mood by releasing positive endorphins.   This decreases pain and helps improve sleep.

Balance/neuromuscular reeducation exercises

• Our body has small muscles that surround each joint. The job of these muscles is to send information about the joint position to the brain. This information helps the brain to determine what signals to send to the muscles concerning how far, how fast, and how powerfully to move. Improving this mechanism will decrease forces on your joint and let you move less painfully.
• When we lose our balance, we use our ankle and hip muscles to try to regain our balance. By improving the hip strategy, we decrease our fall risk which allows us to perform more challenging tasks.

These four categories cover the majority of exercises your therapist might ask you to perform during your therapy sessions and at home.  It is important that you and your therapist establish goals together to direct your treatment and to make sure you get back to performing the things that you enjoy in life.  Building a good relationship with your physical therapist will help you to determine when and if you need to consider a total hip replacement.

To Schedule An Appointment
Call 304.525.4445

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