Hip Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint conditions among older adults and individuals with a history of mechanical overload or previous injuries. It is a degenerative disease that affects the cartilage of the hip joint, causing pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. With increasing life expectancy and more sedentary lifestyles, its prevalence continues to rise. However, early treatment and therapeutic exercise —including telerehabilitation through digital platforms such as TRAK— can slow its progression and significantly improve quality of life.

What Is Hip Osteoarthritis?

Also known as coxarthrosis, hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the articular cartilage that covers the head of the femur and the acetabulum (the pelvic socket where it fits). When this cartilage deteriorates, the bones rub against each other, causing inflammation, pain, and reduced mobility.

It is a chronic, progressive condition whose evolution varies depending on lifestyle, physical activity, body weight, and genetic factors.

Main Causes of Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis has a multifactorial origin — it rarely stems from a single cause. Instead, it results from a combination of mechanical, genetic, and metabolic factors. The main risk factors include:

Aging: with age, cartilage loses elasticity and its ability to regenerate.
Genetic predisposition: certain genetic mutations can increase susceptibility to cartilage degeneration.
Overweight and obesity: excess body weight accelerates joint wear and tear.
Previous trauma or fractures: poorly healed injuries can alter hip biomechanics.
Hip dysplasia: congenital joint malformations that predispose to cartilage damage.
Mechanical overload: repetitive or high-impact movements in sports or work activities.
Metabolic factors: conditions such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome also increase the risk.

Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis

Symptoms usually develop gradually. Early signs may go unnoticed or be mistaken for muscle soreness. The most common include:

Pain in the groin or front of the thigh, sometimes radiating to the knee.
Morning stiffness, especially after waking up or sitting for long periods.
Reduced mobility, making it difficult to cross the legs or bend down.
Clicking or grinding sounds when moving the hip.
Pain while walking or climbing stairs, which improves with rest.
Muscle atrophy in the gluteal and thigh muscles over time.

In advanced stages, pain may appear even at rest or at night, affecting sleep quality and daily independence.

Diagnosing Hip Osteoarthritis

Diagnosis of coxarthrosis is based on a combination of detailed clinical assessment and imaging tests. The physiotherapist or rehabilitation physician performs a physical examination to assess mobility, muscle strength, and pain upon palpation. Common diagnostic tools include:

X-rays: show joint space narrowing and the presence of osteophytes (bone spurs).
MRI: provides detailed images of the cartilage and surrounding soft tissues.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound: useful for detecting inflammation or bursitis.

Early diagnosis is essential for implementing preventive and therapeutic strategies that help limit joint damage.

Treatment for Hip Osteoarthritis

Treatment focuses on reducing pain, improving mobility, and slowing cartilage degeneration. The approach varies depending on the severity of the condition:

1. Conservative Treatment

In mild to moderate stages, combining therapeutic exercise, patient education, and weight management is the most effective strategy. The physiotherapist creates a personalized plan to enhance strength, stability, and joint mobility.

Therapeutic exercise: strengthens stabilizing muscles (glutes, quadriceps, and adductors) and supports hip function.
Joint mobilization: manual therapy techniques to reduce stiffness and discomfort.
Local heat therapy: improves blood flow and relieves stiffness.
Movement education: teaching how to perform daily activities with less stress on the hip joint.

2. Guided Therapeutic Exercise and Telerehabilitation

Digital therapeutic exercise is an innovative tool for managing osteoarthritis. Through platforms like TRAK, patients can follow personalized exercise programs from home, with remote physiotherapist supervision and real-time corrections powered by artificial intelligence.

This telerehabilitation approach helps maintain treatment adherence — a key factor in preventing the progression of osteoarthritis. Additional benefits include:

Accessibility: removes geographical barriers and ensures continuity of care.
Instant visual feedback: the system analyzes movement and corrects execution errors.
Progress monitoring: therapists can adjust intensity and frequency based on patient evolution.
Motivation and autonomy: patients learn to move safely, reducing fear and improving confidence.

3. Pharmacological Treatment

In some cases, physicians may recommend analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications to control acute pain. Supplements such as hydrolyzed collagen or chondroprotectors may offer limited benefit but can be used as complementary support.

4. Surgery

When osteoarthritis is severe and significantly limits function, total hip replacement surgery may be indicated. This procedure replaces the damaged joint with an artificial one, offering excellent outcomes for most patients. Postoperative physiotherapy and telerehabilitation are essential for restoring optimal function.

Prevention of Hip Osteoarthritis

Adopting healthy habits is key to preventing or delaying hip osteoarthritis. Recommended strategies include:

Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce joint stress.
Engaging in regular physical activity, particularly low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, or cycling.
Strengthening hip muscles to enhance joint stability.
Avoiding prolonged static positions or repetitive motions that overload the joint.
Consulting a physiotherapist at the first sign of persistent pain or limited motion.

Conclusion

While hip osteoarthritis has no definitive cure, early diagnosis and an active therapeutic approach can effectively control pain, preserve mobility, and prevent functional decline. Therapeutic exercise guided by physiotherapists and telerehabilitation with TRAK offer an effective, safe, and accessible way to improve patients’ quality of life.

Ultimately, movement —when performed regularly and safely— is the best medicine for your joints. And with tools like TRAK, every patient can move confidently, securely, and under professional guidance.

FAQs About Hip Osteoarthritis

Can hip osteoarthritis be cured?

There is no permanent cure, but current treatments can reduce pain, improve mobility, and slow disease progression.

Is it safe to exercise with hip osteoarthritis?

Yes, as long as exercises are adapted and supervised. Movement helps maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and joint function.

What type of exercise is best for hip osteoarthritis?

Low-impact exercises such as cycling, swimming, or walking, combined with strengthening and mobility programs designed by physiotherapists.

How does telerehabilitation with TRAK help?

It allows you to follow a personalized exercise plan from home with remote supervision and real-time feedback, improving adherence and treatment outcomes.