It is made up of the head of the femur and the acetabulum, and is the main connection between the lower limb and the torso. Both joint surfaces are covered with cartilage, which together with synovial fluid reduce friction during movement.
Over time, this cartilage wears down, and muscles and tendons become more susceptible to damage.
Causes of hip pain
Hip pain can occur due to a number of problems affecting both the joint itself (arthritis, trauma, congenital abnormalities) and affecting the ligaments, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.
Sometimes hip pain can originate from other areas, for example the lower back.
Hip pain is usually localized in one of the following three areas:
anterior - groin area;
posterior - ischial region;
upper lateral thigh area.
Here are the most common causes of hip pain.
Arthrosis changes-As mentioned, with time the articular cartilage dehydrates, synovial fluid decreases and friction between joint surfaces increases. There is a mismatch between the load on the joint and the ability of the articular cartilage to support that load. This leads to faster wear of the joint itself, discomfort and pain in the hip joint. Coxarthrosis is more common in women, and only one or both joints may be affected.
Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa sacs around the joints leads to increased pressure (due to increased fluid) and pain with movement. A bursa is a sac filled with fluid. Bursae are usually located between tissues such as bones, muscles, and tendons. Their role is to facilitate the friction of these tissues.
There are two bursae near the hip joint: the trochanteric bursa and the iliopsoas bursa. With inflammation of the trochanteric bursa, trochanteric bursitis develops and pain occurs in the upper lateral part of the hip. In inflammation of the iliopsoas bursa, iliopsoas bursitis develops and pain is localized in the groin area.
Tendinitis-This is inflammation of the tendons of the muscles. It is most often triggered by uniform strenuous exercise. Symptoms are pain on movement, redness of the site itself and even swelling.
Avascular necrosis- Caused by interruption of blood supply to the bone. Causes can be varied - trauma, femoral dislocations, various diseases such as diabetes, pancreatitis, etc. Pain is characteristic on sitting, standing up and other exertions, and is relieved on rest.
Hip fracture - As we age, bones become more brittle and easily broken. That's why hip fractures are more common in people over 50. The most common fracture is a femoral neck fracture.
Hip Dislocation- A serious injury such as a hip dislocation most often occurs due to a car accident. Luxation can be anterior and posterior, superior and inferior. Severe pain is experienced whenever movement of the affected leg is attempted.
Symptoms
The intensity of pain depends on the original disease, specific health characteristics, concomitant pathologies, etc. Usually the symptoms are:
swelling in the joint area;
tingling of the leg;
clicking on the move;
sensation of pulsation and heat in the area;
increased body temperature, etc.
Diagnostics
To determine the causes of hip pain, in addition to a physical examination, a thorough objective examination is performed. Depending on the medical history and current condition, it may include ultrasound, radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic arthroscopy, etc.
Hip pain treatment
Based on the examination and diagnosis, appropriate treatment is prescribed, most often:
drug - with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are administered in the acute period of inflammation;
physiotherapy - a complex treatment of electrotherapy, manual therapy and exercises, reduces pain in the hip joint, strengthens the muscles around it and prevents subsequent complaints.
If you have a problem with hip pain,contact us and book an appointment for a consultation and physiotherapy. We will give you our expert opinion and recommendations on how to treat your specific condition and implement them with professionalism and care.
