The causes of osteoarthritis of the hip are not fully known. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, though it can also occur in younger people, too. OA of the hip can be extremely debilitating and can significantly affect someone’s quality of life. Unfortunately, this just adds to the problem causing more joint stiffness and inflammation. As the disease process becomes more advanced over time, the body starts to make extra bone as a way of trying to protect the joint these are called osteophytes. The thinner layer of cartilage and reduced shock absorbency, also means that the joint is more compressed, with greater forces going through it, causing microtrauma within the joint. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your hip to wear down and become thinner, which makes the surfaces rough and jagged.

As well as providing smooth movement within the joint, it also functions as a “shock absorber.” This is tough tissue that cushions the ends of the bones and allows them to move easily, without friction. The bone surfaces of the hip joint are covered by a smooth, slippery surface called articular cartilage. It consists of a ball (femoral head) at the top of the thigh bone (femur), which fits into a socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis this is called a ball and socket joint. The hip joint is the largest, and one of the most important in the body. Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are many treatment options available to you, to help you manage your pain and symptoms and stay active. It can make it hard to complete everyday activities and tasks, like bending over to tie a shoe, rising from a chair, doing stairs, or taking a short walk.īecause osteoarthritis gradually gets worse over time, it’s important that you get an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible, in order to lessen its impact on your life. The most widely reported symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip are pain and stiffness with pain often starting in the groin, and radiating down the leg or into the back. It is a condition that is caused by wear and tear on the articular cartilage in the joint. It can occur in any joint in the body, but most often develops in weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Osteoarthritis is a very common condition that many people develop as they get older.

Normal male hip arthritis xray