Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease which affects the joints in the body. The surface of the joint is damaged and the surrounding bone grows thicker. In England nearly 2,5 million people are affected by it (Aresti, 2016).
Common reasons:
OA of the hip causes joint damage and swelling (inflammation) making it painful to move the hip.Many factors seem to increase the risk of osteoarthritis
developing in the hip joint. The risk increases with age, genetic factors, gender twice as common in women as in men, being overweight and previous injuries to the knee joint.
Treatment:
There are no cures for osteoarthritis however Physiotherapy, strengthening and medication can assist in managing symptoms; at a late stage joint replacement is necessary for pain free activity and to regain quality of life.
References:
Aresti N., 2016, Hip Osteoarthritis, BMJ 2016;354:i3405
