The hip bones are an essential component of the musculoskeletal system that are responsible for supporting the weight of people when they are standing, walking or running. Over the span of several decades, the hip takes several shocks that slowly wear the cartilage around these load-bearing joints. The loss of cartilage in this area may eventually lead to hip osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis of the hip can cause pain and stiffness, and limit a patient’s mobility.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of adults living in the United States alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 22.7 percent of U.S. adults were told by a doctor they have some form of arthritis, which is expected to rise due to an aging population and the obesity crisis happening in the United States.
Here are some of the treatment options for osteoarthritis:
Artificial hip replacement is a surgical procedure where the hip joint is replaced with a prosthesis.
A surgeon can restore the cartilage between the femoral head and acetabulum socket by moving healthy cartilage to the affected area; using tissue cultured in a lab; using a donor’s bone; stimulating cartilage cells to grow; or other cartilage regeneration techniques.
In this procedure, surgeons remove the damaged cartilage layer and replaces it with a smooth plastic or metal layer.
In some cases, physicians may recommend injections of cortisone to relieve pain and avoid open surgery. There is a limit to how many injections a patient can have per year.
Physical therapy has been useful in relieving pain for patients living with osteoarthritis. In most cases, patients who are engaged in physical therapy usually report having more flexibility. Research also suggests that these patients may experience less pain when compared to inactive patients.