Dr. Vaishali Suri (P.T.)
What Is Hip Osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis involves progressive cartilage breakdown in the hip joint, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. It is one of the leading causes of disability in adults over 50 in Delhi NCR.
Hip osteoarthritis is widely misunderstood as an inevitable march toward hip replacement. Patients who commit to targeted hip strengthening and manual therapy often stabilise their symptoms for years and avoid or significantly delay surgery. The hip joint responds exceptionally well to the right loading programme.
Hip OA Physiotherapy Evidence
- ✦ Exercise therapy reduces hip OA pain by 28–32% and improves function by 22–24% (Fransen et al., Cochrane, 2014).
- ✦ Manual therapy combined with exercise shows superior outcomes to exercise alone for hip OA (Hoeksma et al., 2004, Arthritis and Rheumatism).
- ✦ Every 1 kg of weight loss reduces hip joint load by 3–4 kg during walking.
- ✦ Patients who complete supervised physiotherapy before hip replacement have 30% faster post-surgical recovery (Hoogeboom et al., 2012).
How Physiotherapy Helps
Research consistently shows that targeted exercise therapy reduces hip OA pain as effectively as early surgical intervention. Our physiotherapists design individualised programmes that strengthen supporting muscles, reduce joint load, and improve mobility.
Key Treatment Components
- Hip flexor and gluteal strengthening
- Aquatic therapy exercises for low-impact conditioning
- Manual mobilisation to restore range of movement
- Gait retraining and walking aid assessment
- Weight management guidance to reduce joint loading
Delaying Surgery with Physiotherapy
Many patients manage hip OA effectively with physiotherapy for years, avoiding or significantly delaying hip replacement surgery.
Consult Our Hip Specialists
Realign Clinic provides expert hip OA management in Faridabad. Book your consultation today.
Sources & References
- Fransen M et al. (2014). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the hip. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4):CD007912.
- Hoeksma HL et al. (2004). Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 51(5):722–729.
- Hoogeboom TJ et al. (2012). Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery. Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology, 25(1):109–116.
Content reviewed by Dr. Vaishali Suri (P.T.), BPT, MPT Orthopedics, MIAP.