What causes hip osteoarthritis?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. Osteoarthritis involves changes to the cartilage, bone, joint lining, and surrounding tissues, which can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. Age can raise the likelihood, but symptoms are not explained by age alone.

A previous fracture or other injury may alter how force moves through the joint. Hip impingement, developmental differences in hip shape, and childhood hip conditions can also increase uneven contact. Avascular necrosis, which affects the blood supply to the hip bone, is another possible pathway to joint damage.

Keep the hip moving within a comfortable range and choose low-impact activities that do not cause a lasting flare. Physiotherapy can address hip and trunk strength, flexibility, walking mechanics, and ways to pace daily tasks. A clinician can combine your history and examination with imaging when the diagnosis or extent of change is unclear.

Treatment is tailored to pain, mobility, sleep, work, and activity goals. It may include exercise, weight-management support where relevant, pain relief, or discussion of joint replacement when symptoms remain seriously limiting despite non-surgical care.

Arrange an assessment for persistent groin or hip pain, morning stiffness, difficulty putting on socks, or a growing restriction in walking. Seek urgent help for sudden severe pain, inability to bear weight, fever with a hot swollen joint, or symptoms after a fall.

Ask which findings support osteoarthritis, whether an earlier hip condition may have contributed, what exercise and pain plan fits your goals, and when imaging or a surgical opinion would be useful.