Physiotherapy for hip arthritis in Delhi.
Symptoms
Because of the damage to the cartilage, people with arthritis may feel as though their hip is stiff and their motion is limited. Sometimes people feel a catching or clicking within the hip. The pain usually gets worse when the hip joint is strained by walking long distances, standing for a long time or climbing stairs. The pain is usually felt in the groin, but also may be felt on the side of the hip, the buttock and sometimes into the knee.
Arthritis treatment in Delhi
HIP ARTHRITIS PHYSIOTHERAPY
There ae several factors which may contribute to the development of hip arthritis. These factors should be assessed and corrected (where possible) with direction from a physiotherapist and may include:
- age (> 40 years)
- being overweight
- history of injury, surgery or trauma to the hip joint
- muscle weakness (particularly of the quadriceps and gluteals)
- muscle tightness (e.g. hip flexors, gluteals, adductors)
- stiffness in other joints (e.g. the thoracic or lumbar spine)
- a sedentary lifestyle
- leg length discrepancy or postural abnormalities of the lower limb
- poor biomechanics or foot posture (e.g. flat feet)
- inappropriate footwear
- poor core stability or balance
- excessive or inappropriate weight bearing or twisting activity
- inadequate recovery periods from training or activity
- poor nutrition or inappropriate diet
- hip joint bony abnormalities (which may result in hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement) and subsequently increase the risk of developing arthritis)
The disease process of hip arthritis is generally progressive – but the rate of this progression and the severity of symptoms can be markedly reduced with appropriate conservative treatment. Physiotherapists are well placed to apply to most evidence-based treatments that can help reduce the symptoms of hip arthritis and the progression of the disease process.
The first thing to do in any case of hip arthritis is to reduce the pain the patient is experiencing. This can be done by:
- Regular application of ice packs to reduce your hip pain.
- Discussing the prescription of NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. neurofen) with your doctor.
- Your physiotherapist will use an array of treatment techniques to reduce your hip pain and inflammation. These may include: ice, dry needling, soft tissue massage and the temporary use of a mobility aid (eg walking stick) to off-load the affected side.
- It is also important to restore the normal movement and strength in the joint, which often deteriorates over time due to the pain associated with the arthritis. Your physiotherapist will turn their attention to restoring your normal muscle length and resting tension, muscle strength and endurance, proprioception, balance and gait (walking pattern).
The final stage of your hip arthritis rehabilitation is aimed at returning you to your desired activities. Everyone has different demands for their hips that will determine what specific treatment goals you need to achieve. For some it be simply to walk around the block.
Your physiotherapist will tailor your hip rehabilitation to help you achieve your own functional goals.