This information resources been written for people with hip pain, due to osteoarthritis (OA). It provides general information about hip pain and what can be done to help. It also tells you where to find further information. This information is not meant for people with hip pain from osteoporosis, gluteal tendinopathy or other causes.
What is osteoarthritis of the hip?
The hip is a ‘ball and socket’ joint, where the end of the thigh bone (femur) is rounded and fits into a socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The ends of the bones are covered with ‘articular cartilage’.
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip joint pain. It is important to understand that osteoarthritis is not always painful. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a condition that impacts the entire joint, encompassing bone, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. While it has been traditionally characterized as 'wear and tear,' current understanding suggests that OA may actually be the outcome of a joint's heightened efforts to undergo self-repair.
The lining of the joint capsule (called the synovium) may thicken and produce more fluid than normal, causing joint swelling, pain and stiffness. Extra bone may form at the edge of the joint. These bony growths are called osteophytes and can sometimes restrict movement or rub against other tissues.
Signs of Hip osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis is a very common condition and does not always cause pain. However, hip osteoarthritis can be painful because of the joint’s weight-bearing role in standing, walking and exercising. The pain may flare when you are active and gets better when you rest. People often see this as a reason to rest more but it is important to remain active by finding the right type and amount of activity, and pacing your activity.
Pain usually develops slowly, starting in the groin and radiating to the to the outside of the hips or the buttocks. The joint may stiffen, making it difficult to rotate (turn) the hip.
Early osteoarthritis symptoms can be self-managed through physical activity, exercise and weight loss if overweight. Pain flares and persistent pain symptoms may require support from your healthcare team.
What causes hip osteoarthritis?
Anyone can develop osteoarthritis at any time, regardless of their weight or history. However obesity and a history of repeated trauma to the joint may be causes for the condition. Family history can also play a role.
Should I see a doctor for hip osteoarthritis?
You should talk to your doctor or other health professional if your pain or other symptoms are bothering you. They will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. They may check for any serious medical problems that could be causing your pain, but these are rare. You should see your doctor if your pain does not settle down after a few weeks, or starts getting worse.
What can I do for my hip osteoarthritis?
Talk to your healthcare team. It is common to worry about the cause of your pain and how it will affect you. Talking to your doctor or another health professional about your worries can be helpful. You will usually find there is no serious cause and there are ways you can deal with it.
Learn about hip pain and play an active role in your treatment. Not all information you read or hear about is trustworthy so always talk to your doctor or healthcare team about treatments you are thinking about trying. Reliable sources of further information are also listed in the section below. Self- management courses aim to help you develop skills to be actively involved in your healthcare. Contact your local Arthritis Australia office for details of these courses.
Learn ways to manage pain. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to relieve your pain. Some people have found massage and acupuncture helpful with hip pain, although this has not been proven by research. There are also medicines that can help with hip pain:
- Anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS) may relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before take these medicines as they are not suitable for all people.
- Stronger pain medicine, such as codeine or tramadol should be avoided.
- A corticosteroid injection into the hip joint may relieve pain.
Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medicines, as even natural and over-the-counter medicines can have side effects.
Stay active. Your body is designed for movement and exercise is one of the most important treatments for osteoarthritis of the hip. It helps to reduce pain and maintain your general health. To protect your sore joints, try low- impact activities, where there is less weight going through your hips. Examples of low-impact activities include cycling and walking. You could also try:
- Water exercise: The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your hips and you may find you can move more freely than you can on land. You could swim, do a hydrotherapy session with a physiotherapist or join a local warm water exercise class. See the Water exercise sheet for more information.
- Strengthening exercises: Physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around your hip can also help reduce pain from osteoarthritis.
- Tai chi: Studies show that tai chi can help reduce pain and stiffness for people with osteoarthritis1-3
See a physiotherapist or other health professional for advice about exercises to keep your hip moving. See the Working with your healthcare team information sheet for more information about seeing a physiotherapist.
Weight loss: Being overweight can lead to more pain and damage to hips and knees affected by osteoarthritis. Even modest weight loss (e.g. five percent reduction in body weight) can noticeably reduce symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. You may find it useful to see a dietitian for advice about healthy eating and weight loss.
Aids or supports: Some people may find using a walking stick helps reduce pain, although there are no studies to prove this claim. Always use the walking stick on the opposite side to your sore joint (if your right hip is affected, use the walking stick in your left hand).
Acknowledge your feelings and seek support: It is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes angry when you have pain. Be aware of these feelings and get help if necessary. You can learn skills to recognise and calm anxiety or strong emotions if you find they start to affect your daily life. See the Awareness of thoughts & emotions treatment sheet.
There are many other treatments for hip pain that have not been well-proven.2,3 Some unproven treatments may still be useful, however further research is needed.
These treatments include:
- herbal medicines
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- heat and cold (eg. hot water bottles, heat packs, ice packs). Your healthcare team can give you more advice and information about whether any of these or other treatments might be useful for you.
Also see the Dealing with pain fact sheet
Other resources
Podcasts
State/Territory Arthritis Offices
Your local Arthritis Office can provide further information to assist you and will have a range of education and support activities. Click here to find your local office.
Independent Living Centres (ILCs)
These centres provide information about products and services to help people remain independent and improve their quality of life. They are located in each capital city. See www.ilcaustralia.org.au or call the National ILC Infoline on 1300 885 886 to find your closest centre and more information. (In Queensland, the Independent Living Centre is called LifeTec).
Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program
Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program: A multidisciplinary pain management program for public patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis in the Hornsby area of Sydney. (NSW Health).
Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program: A multidisciplinary pain management program for public patients on the elective joint replacement list at Royal North Shore Hospital and Ryde Hospital. (NSW Health)
Osteoarthritis Management Program: For people with knee and hip osteoarthritis to reduce joint pain and stiffness, conducted by Hunters Hill Private Hospital in Sydney.
https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/statewide-programs/lbvc/osteoarthritis-chronic-care-program
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Value/lbvc/Pages/osteoarthritis.aspx
The below references have been used to develop this fact sheet with the most up-to-date evidence available.
References
- Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Callahan LF. Clinical relevance of Tai Chi on pain and physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis: An ancillary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Science Progress. 2022;105(2):00368504221088375.
- Gray B, Gibbs A, Bowden JL, et al. Appraisal of quality and analysis of the similarities and differences between osteoarthritis Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations: A systematic review. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2024.
- Gibbs AJ, Gray B, Wallis JA, et al. Recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2023;31(10):1280-1292.
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