Hip & Thigh
Hip Osteoarthritis
Also called: Hip arthritis
Gradual wear of the hip joint's cartilage with bone and capsule changes, producing groin-dominant pain and stiffness. Progression is not fixed: strength, weight management, and activity strongly influence both symptoms and trajectory. Exercise is the first-line treatment worldwide — not a consolation prize.
Common signs
- Deep groin ache (sometimes thigh/knee referral) with activity
- Morning stiffness under 30 minutes
- Loss of internal rotation first — trouble crossing legs, putting on socks
- Stiffness after sitting; reduced stride length
Seek help now if
- Sudden inability to bear weight
- Night pain with fever or systemic symptoms
- History of long-term steroid use with new deep hip pain (rule out avascular necrosis)
If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.
What to do first
- Confirm with an exam (and X-rays if needed) and establish a baseline of motion and strength
- Start a hip-specific strengthening program — the single most evidence-backed intervention
- Trial activity modification, not elimination: bike and pool often work when walking flares it
The longer road
- A long-term plan: progressive strengthening, mobility maintenance, weight and inflammation management, flare protocol
- Track function (walking distance, stairs, sock test) quarterly
- Joint replacement is a quality-of-life decision for advanced cases after conservative care — going in stronger produces better surgical outcomes too
Natural healing options we use
- Chiropractic and manual therapy for the hip capsule and lumbopelvic mechanics
- Progressive resistance program (glutes, quads, abductors)
- PEMF for joint support
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition; collagen, omega-3, vitamin D
- Pool exercise on your own during flares
About imaging
Standing X-rays grade the arthritis. Remember: X-ray severity and pain correlate loosely — treat the person, not the film.
Daily self-care
- Daily movement 'minimum dose' even on flare days
- Strength train hips 2–3× weekly
- Manage body weight — each pound off is multiplied at the joint
How we can help
PEMF Therapy
Learn more →Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)
Learn more →Chiropractic Adjustments
Learn more →Massage & Soft-Tissue Therapy
Learn more →Keep working on it at home
Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.
More in Hip & Thigh
Femoroacetabular ImpingementHip Labral TearGreater Trochanteric Pain SyndromeHip Flexor StrainHamstring StrainGroin (Adductor) StrainMeralgia ParestheticaHip Pointer
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.