Hip Arthritis: Osteoarthritis of the Hip Joint
What is Hip Arthritis (Osteoarthritis / Coxarthroses)?
Long-Term Degeneration of the Hip Joint
The hip joint connects the pelvis to the upper femur (upper leg bone). This joint facilitates the transfer of power from the upper body to the lower body, allowing movement. Long-term degeneration of the hip joint can lead to hip osteoarthritis or coxarthrosis.
In mild cases of this condition, patients may experience pain in the hip and groin regions when walking, bending, or descending stairs. Conservative therapy can help manage the progression of the disease.
However, in chronic cases where long-term degeneration is apparent, surgical intervention might become necessary.
Causes of Hip Arthritis
Contrary to belief, osteoarthritis of the hip is not exclusively a disease of ageing. Other risk factors that can lead to the development of the disease include:
- Physical trauma from an accident or sporting injury.
- Excessive repeated strain on the hip from rigorous physical activity, such as unhealthy exercise or manual labour.
- Inherent malpositions in the structure of the hip joint, as seen in hip dysplasia.
- Pre-existing conditions, such as inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatism or gout disease.
- Metabolic and weight-related diseases like obesity.
Hip Arthritis Symptoms
Hip Arthritis is a serious condition that progresses with time and age. The symptoms typically get worse, and more drastic measures are needed to keep the hip joint from deteriorating further. Associated symptoms of hip arthritis consist of:
- The patient increasingly suffers from pain in the hip and groin area when the joint is stressed.
- The initial symptoms are limited to being painful under stress, but soon progress from episodic to constant, sharp pain.
- The patient’s mobility is severely restricted, and any movement, such as walking, bending, or descending stairs, is very painful.
- Swelling may occur in the hip joint.
- Chronic Case Symptoms of Hip Arthritis
In chronic cases, the long-term wear and tear of the cartilage reduces the joint gap between the pelvis and the femur. This results in the bones grinding against each other, and in the worst-case scenario, the entire cartilage can be compromised.
Bony growths, called osteophytes, may develop in the gap and alter the joint's structure entirely. Consequently, the hip becomes very stiff, and the patient will experience pain in both the hip and groin regions.
How to diagnose arthritis in your hip?
Diagnosis of hip arthritis is complex in its early stages and is often neglected. Delayed treatment can cause irreversible damage to the hip. Thus, it is highly recommended to seek professional medical treatment as soon as possible.
Hip Arthritis X-Ray
A physician begins with a complete patient history and a thorough physical examination. Sophisticated imaging technology, like X-rays and MRIS, can help detect abnormalities in the structure of the hip joint and also give a clear idea of the progression of the disease.
These images show changes in the joint structures in later stages of hip arthritis. Once a deeper understanding of the severity of the condition is gained, an effective treatment path can be decided.
Hip Arthritis Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip depends on the severity and the progression of the disease.
In the case of inherent malpositions, these are typical:
For infants, corrections are made when malpositions are detected at birth. A splint is used to realign the structure and is proven effective in fixing the hip at an early age. The fixed hip does not bother the baby and is perfectly safe.
For adults, treatment for malpositions involves stabilising and strengthening the hip muscles. Hip Arthritis treatment aims to slow the progression of degeneration and alleviate pain.
A good plan of action involves:
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes in the early stages can help slow the progression of the condition. Avoiding stressful activities, like intensive manual labour and vigorous exercise, is an effective measure a patient can take in their daily life.
Healthy nutrition and weight can help reduce the weight resting on the hip joint and are beneficial in managing arthrosis.
Rehabilitation And Physiotherapy
Regulated physiotherapy is a proven effective treatment path for weight loss and targeted muscle building. The prescribed exercises can help promote reorganisation within the muscles and are the most effective option to curb the disease. Encouraging healthy proprioception and muscle strengthening helps prevent long-term degeneration and can slow the progression of coxarthrosis. It is crucial to involve exercise and physiotherapy for a complete treatment path.
Heat Application
Applying heat, such as heat pads, has been shown to alleviate pain in the muscles around the hip joint. Heat application, in combination with remedial massage and hydrotherapy, can be effective in managing pain and swelling.
Prescribed Pain Medication for arthritis in the hip
Medication, such as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol, can help alleviate pain and swelling caused by coxarthrosis. Anti-inflammatory medication can be used to effectively manage the symptoms; however, it only temporarily treats the pain without addressing the underlying condition. In addition, tolerance may occur, where the effectiveness of the drugs decreases, as well as other potential side effects.
Medical Hip Orthosis and Braces
It is highly recommended that ample support for the hip region be provided through the use of a medical back brace. The targeted compression and support that braces provide can help boost stability and muscle activation and reduce the possibility of further injury. Additionally, a comfortable and well-designed back brace should also reduce the need for reliance on painkillers, with medical studies* showing up to 52% and 4.8 fewer sick days due to back pain. Bauerfeind’s hip braces, like the CoxaTrain, help to compensate for the weak hip and provide much-needed stability.
Surgical Intervention
Operative surgery is considered only in extreme cases where symptoms are persistent, and all conservative treatments have been exhausted.
In chronic conditions, patients experience constant and permanent pain. The cartilage fails to act as an effective buffer between the bones, and there is a loss of joint space. The bones rub against each other, causing severe discomfort and pain (especially in the groin area).
In severe degenerative cases, a total hip replacement may be performed. The replacement has a lifespan of 15-25 years and has proven to be very beneficial. The surgery carries some risk and should be carefully evaluated.
What is the best support brace for hip arthritis?
CoxaTrain Hip Brace
Bauerfeind’s CoxaTrain stabilises and supports the hip joint through a hinged splint attached to a compression back brace and thigh support. Relieving stress relieves pain associated with movement and may slow the progression of the condition.
In a study on patients with hip OA, the CoxaTrain improved walking speed and stride length. Patients also reported that pain at night was reduced by 17.8%, and pain while walking by 28.6%
The CoxaTrain achieves these results through a combination of unique and patented features, including:
- Tool-free setting of the joint splint to suit your patient’s anatomy
- Height-adjustable thigh support above the joint splint
- Compression knit to stimulate the muscles and improve proprioception
- Gluteal pad to massage trigger points
- SI pads to relieve tension and pain
- Trochanter pad to relieve the joint
- Limiter pins in case immobilisation is needed
- 6 pelvis sizes, 3 thigh sizes per leg, 2 length sizes (under 170 cm and over)
The anatomic, lightweight, and highly adjustable design also ensures a high level of comfort.