Hip Arthritis & Osteoarthritis
Hip arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, can cause pain, stiffness and reduced movement that may affect walking and everyday activities.
You may experience pain in the groin, around the outside of the hip, in the buttocks or sometimes further down the thigh. Activities such as walking, standing, climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car may become more difficult.
At MK Orthotics in Milton Keynes, we can assess your feet and lower-limb mechanics to see whether factors below the hip may be contributing to how you load and move through your leg.
What is hip osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition that affects joints. In the hip, changes can occur to the cartilage and other structures within and around the joint.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the leg to move in several directions while transferring load between the pelvis and lower limb.
Osteoarthritis does not affect everyone in the same way. Some people have changes visible on an X-ray with relatively few symptoms, while others can experience significant pain and difficulty with movement.
Hip osteoarthritis is more common with increasing age, but it can also occur in younger people.
What causes hip arthritis?
There is not always one single cause of hip osteoarthritis.
Factors that may be associated with developing hip osteoarthritis include:
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Previous injury or fracture involving the hip
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Previous hip surgery
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Childhood conditions affecting the shape or development of the hip
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Hip dysplasia
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Perthes disease
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Family history of osteoarthritis
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Other joint conditions
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Increasing age
Hip pain can also be caused by conditions other than osteoarthritis. A proper assessment is therefore important if you have persistent or unexplained symptoms.
What does hip arthritis feel like?
Symptoms can vary considerably.
Common symptoms include:
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Pain in the groin
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Pain around the outside of the hip
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Pain in the buttock
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Pain that may extend into the thigh
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Stiffness in the hip
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Reduced hip movement
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Pain or difficulty when walking
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Difficulty putting on shoes and socks
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Difficulty getting in or out of a car
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Difficulty bending or squatting
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A limp or change in the way you walk
Hip osteoarthritis symptoms can fluctuate. You may have periods when your symptoms are relatively mild and other times when pain and stiffness become more noticeable.
Hip arthritis and walking
The hip plays an important role in transferring load between your body and your leg when you stand and walk.
If hip movement becomes restricted or painful, you may naturally change the way you move to reduce discomfort.
This can alter how forces are transferred through the rest of the lower limb.
Your foot and ankle mechanics may therefore be relevant when considering the way you walk, although this does not mean that an abnormal foot position is necessarily the cause of hip arthritis.
An assessment can help determine whether there are any lower-limb factors that may be relevant to your symptoms and function.
Could orthotics help with hip arthritis?
Orthotics do not reverse or cure arthritis in the hip.
They are also not automatically appropriate for everyone with hip osteoarthritis.
In some people, however, the way the foot and lower limb function during walking may be relevant to how load is transferred through the leg. Where this appears to be a contributing factor, an orthotic or other form of support may sometimes be considered as part of an individual management plan.
The decision would be based on your assessment rather than simply on having a diagnosis of hip arthritis.
An orthotic may be considered alongside other approaches rather than instead of appropriate exercise, rehabilitation or medical treatment.
Assessment of your foot and lower-limb mechanics
At MK Orthotics, we look at the whole lower limb rather than concentrating only on the painful area.
Your assessment may include:
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Discussion of your symptoms
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Your medical and injury history
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Your footwear
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Your normal activities
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Your walking pattern
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Foot posture and structure
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Foot and ankle movement
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Lower-limb joint movement
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Muscle function
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How your feet and lower limbs behave when standing and walking
Where appropriate, video gait analysis may be used to look more closely at your walking pattern.
The initial consultation is approximately 90 minutes, giving time for a detailed assessment and discussion of the findings.
What else can help manage hip arthritis?
Management of hip osteoarthritis is usually broader than orthotics alone.
Exercise and maintaining physical activity are important parts of managing osteoarthritis symptoms. Appropriate exercise can help maintain strength, movement and general fitness.
Depending on your individual circumstances, other approaches may include:
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Exercise and strengthening
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Physiotherapy
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Activity modification and pacing
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Weight management where appropriate
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Suitable footwear
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Pain management discussed with your GP or healthcare professional
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Supportive devices where appropriate
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Injections in some circumstances
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Surgery for some people when symptoms are severe and other treatments have not provided sufficient relief
Your GP, physiotherapist or other healthcare professional can advise on the most appropriate medical management for your arthritis.
Footwear and hip arthritis
Comfortable, supportive footwear may make walking more comfortable for some people with lower-limb osteoarthritis.
Depending on your individual needs, footwear with suitable cushioning and adequate space for your feet may be worth considering.
If you already use orthotics, your footwear also needs to accommodate them correctly.
During an assessment, we can discuss your current footwear and consider whether it may be contributing to your symptoms or affecting the way you move.
When should hip pain be assessed?
Consider seeking professional assessment if:
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Hip pain is affecting your normal activities
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Your hip pain is getting worse or keeps returning
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Stiffness is restricting your movement
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Walking has become more difficult
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You have developed a noticeable change in your walking pattern
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Pain is affecting your sleep
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You are unsure whether your symptoms are coming from your hip or elsewhere
Persistent hip pain should not automatically be assumed to be osteoarthritis. There are several possible causes of hip pain, and a healthcare professional can help determine the most appropriate assessment and treatment.
If you have severe hip pain following an injury, cannot put weight through your leg, or have sudden severe hip pain with other concerning symptoms such as inability to weight bear or a fever, seek appropriate medical advice urgently.
Related conditions
You may also find these pages useful:
Hip arthritis assessment in Milton Keynes
If hip arthritis or hip pain is affecting the way you walk, a detailed assessment of your feet and lower limbs may help identify whether there are any contributing mechanical factors.
At MK Orthotics in Blakelands, Milton Keynes, we assess your individual movement and symptoms rather than assuming that an orthotic is required.
If an orthotic or other support is considered appropriate, we can explain how it may fit into your overall management plan.