Muscle and Joint
Joint pain can affect just one joint or many, and can be caused by arthritis, injury, overuse, or bursitis (an inflammation or irritation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts to reduce fiction in a joint). Osteoarthritis can also cause joint pain and most commonly affects the knees, hips, spine and hands.
Causes of hip pain
Hips are important joints, able to bear the weight of the body while being flexible enough to let you walk freely, but even with such a versatile part of the body, pain can still occur.
When people experience hip pain, it may have a simple cause, such as overdoing an exercise. This discomfort is usually caused by strained or inflamed soft tissues such as tendons. In most cases the pain clears up within a few days. When it comes to long-term hip pain it can be caused by a number of specific conditions, with one of the most common being osteoarthritis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary from person to person, but if it affects the hip it will typically cause:
- mild inflammation of the tissues in and around the hip joint
- damage to cartilage
- bony growths called osteophytes that develop around the edge of the hip joint
- pain, stiffness and difficulty doing certain activities
Unfortunately there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are different treatments available.
If you or someone you’re caring for has hip pain, you may find that the hip can start to become increasingly uncomfortable after too much rest. Simple exercises can help to:
- restore your range of movement
- promote strength
- ease stiffness
Start by exercising very gently and build up gradually. It’s important you continue to exercise on a regular basis --otherwise the improvements you’ve made will disappear within a few weeks.
Exercise may not be suitable for all types of hip pain. It’s a good idea to seek advice from a doctor or physiotherapist before embarking on a fitness programme.
