Cause and Effect When it Comes to Osteoarthritis of The Hip
Osteoarthritis of the hip is the most common type of arthritis involving the hip joint. In patients above the age of 60, osteoarthritis of the hip is the dominant source of hip pain. Although minor Osteoarthtirst is common in hips of those above the age of 60, It may occur in younger people. But, it is rather unusual to see this condition in the young. Generally speaking, osteoarthritis is a result of excessive stress leading to premature “wearing out of a joint.” For this reason, Osteoarthritis is also called “wear and tear” arthritis. It is a common source of hip pain and back pain for many. In fact, we have had many patients present with significant back pain in the presence of hip arthritis. And as such, you will need our clinical Chiropractors to evaluate your condition fully before getting chiropractic treatments in Malaysia.
Keep in mind that osteoarthritis may not have a single reason for occurring, but some factors increase your likelihood of getting arthritis in the hips. These are a few of the more common factors that lead to hip arthritis in most:
- Getting older
- A history of osteoarthritis in close family members
- If you have had accidents or directly injured the hip joint
- Obesity: more weight on the hip joint means more wear and tear
- Congenital malformation of the hip joint: also called Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
- And last: because life isn’t fair, even if you do not have any of these increased risk factors, you can still get osteoarthritis of the hip
Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Hip Joint
The hip joint is a weight-bearing joint: it is one of the largest joint in the body affected by osteoarthritis. The day in, day out stress placed on the hip joint causes the articular cartilage (a thin, smooth covering of the hip bone) to wear out prematurely. Increased hip joint stress leads to thinning out the already thin articular cartilage. The surface of the acetabular joint is lined by a thin covering referred to as the synovium. In a healthy joint, the synovium produces a small amount of fluid, which lubricates the hip joint enabling pain-free movements, relatively effortless.
A properly working bone and cartilage are ten times more slippery than ice. The thinning process often leads to cracks. In patients that neglect this condition, this thinning progressively worsens, and small pieces of cartilage may come loose. The loose pieces may then float inside the hip joint; further irritating the condition. With continued neglect, the articular cartilage wears out completely, and the bones begin to rub together.
Osteoarthritis of the hip
Osteoarthritis usually comes on slowly and results in pain and stiffness in the hip. Sometimes pain is felt further down the leg. However, osteoarthritis does not always cause pain. The hip can have a mild amount of osteoarthritis and feel perfectly fine. Most types of treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip work best when started early before sensitive tissues of the hip joint are damaged. For this reason, our chiropractors prefer to see patients as soon as possible. At Chiropractic Specialty Center we begin with an exam to establish a proper working diagnosis. Once we have finalized your diagnosis: treatments start. We may or may not do additional tests such as imaging (CT scan, X-ray or MRI) or lab work. So, procedures may vary and depend on the severity of your condition. Often a mixture of chiropractic, physiotherapy, physical therapy or rehabilitation is recommended. Rest assured, regardless of the form of treatment prescribed; you are in good hands when you visit one of our centers.
Not only do our chiropractors have a thorough education, but also the experience needed to deal with arthritic conditions. Furthermore, in each of our centers, our chiropractors are backed by an expert clinical team of physiotherapists. Additionally, both our Chiropractors and Physiotherapists have advanced technology for treatments of the spine, hip joint even if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip.