Hip Osteoarthritis
Information, Answers and Self-help Strategies Frequently asked questions What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA), commonly known as ‘wear and tear’ is a normal, age related process that affects the joints. The joint structures can become painful, which can cause stiffness and affect movement and mobility.
What causes osteoarthritis? There are many factors that contribute to osteoarthritis:
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Age: OA usually starts in the late 40s. Gender: OA is more commonly seen in females. Body weight: is a known risk factor for OA. Previous joint injury or surgery: can increase the risk of OA. Genetic factors: having a family history of OA can increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
What are the symptoms? Common symptoms include tenderness, stiffness, pain, and creaking (crepitus). Morning stiffness lasting for up to half an hour or up until you get going is also a common presentation. It is common to experience periods of little pain and then have phases of elevated pain. These are commonly known as a ‘flare up’, and can occur following an increase in activity, but this is not always the case. It can be common for the pain to refer into the groin and down the front of the leg.
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? An x-ray is commonly used to confirm diagnosis. The x-ray picture may show joint space narrowing and bony spur formations in and around the joint. OA tends to develop over time and symptoms can be variable, and does not always relate to the severity seen on x-ray. Your physiotherapist can also diagnose this following a clinical assessment and an x-ray is not always needed.
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