Hip pain is common in aging individuals due to degenerative disorders. But the causes of hip pain are many based on symptoms. So, if you are suffering from hip pain, check for the symptoms involved and approach a healthcare practitioner for treatment accordingly.

Below listed are some of the symptoms and the relevant causes of hip pain:

Apart from these, hip pain may also be a result of dead bone tissues which is caused by a lack of blood supply in the region leading to Avascular Necrosis or Osteonecrosis. Body weight adds to the pain, which can sometimes be very severe. The interruption in blood flow to the bone may be due to trauma or fatty deposits in blood vessels that obstruct blood flow. Certain disorders like sickle cell anemia, pancreatitis, HIV/AIDS, and corticosteroid intakes such as prednisolone, bisphosphonates, and radiation therapy also cause Avascular Necrosis.

As we have seen various kinds of hip pain, there are appropriate treatments, such as treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and if the degenerative damage is severe, as in the case of osteoarthritis, partial or total hip replacement surgery is the option. Complementing surgery or medical treatment, two things that are common for all causes of hip pain – maintaining healthy body weight and Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy

Generally recommended physical exercises that can be helpful for problems of hip pain are as follows -

1) Leg raise (Hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat it 3 times)

2) Bridging (Hold the position for five seconds and then lower down slowly)

3) External Hip rotation (lying)

4) External Hip rotation (lying)

5) Heel side

6) Hip flexion

7) Hip extension (don’t bend knee, hold for 5 seconds and repeat with other leg)

8) Hip abduction (standing) ((hold your leg for 5 seconds and lower. Repeat 5 times on each side)

9) Heel to the buttock

10) Squats (squat until you can’t do anymore)

11) Short arc quadriceps exercise (hold for 5 seconds and then lower slowly)

12) Quadriceps exercise (hold for 5 seconds and relax)

13) Stomach exercise (hold for 20 seconds)

14) Knee lift (hold the stretch for 10 seconds, repeat 5-10 times)

In cases of Avascular necrosis, the following is the advanced physical therapy program* in the recovery phase (six months after minimally invasive hip replacement surgery) –

1) Treadmill – setting 1.0 (5 minutes)

2) Stationary exercise bicycle (5 minutes)

3) Stair Step-up (6 inches) forward/side

4) Pelvic press up – prone and standing

5) Hip-up anterior – prone and standing

6) Bridging for trunk stability (legs upward and bent)

7) Bridging with straight leg raise for each leg (10 lbs.)

8) Bridging with Swiss ball

9) Lying on the side – leg raise (10 lbs.)

10) Lying on stomach/knee flexion – prone (10 lbs.)

11) Dina Disks (balancing, bending, and squatting)

12) T-bands – blue (leg stretching forward and back)

13) Stool walking (2 minutes)

14) Trampoline – holding on to an attached bar (2 minutes)

*Adapted from Versus arthritis for awareness purposes on authentic physiotherapy exercises that could help patients with hip pain.

**Paula Miller, Treating Avascular Necrosis, 21(17):23 (level 5)

While the above-suggested exercises are adapted from popular physiotherapy practices, specific physiotherapy exercises help individuals with the specific causes of hip pain. Hence it is important to consult a physiotherapist or a specialist in cases of hip pain to have a recommended set of exercises particularly helpful to the cause of your hip pain.