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Hip Injuries & Conditions

Hip Injuries & Conditions

When it comes to pain, your hips don’t lie. Hip pain can have an significant impact on your daily life. So often, people think that hip pain is an evitable part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be. Hip pain can be due to a variety of causes and most are treatable.

From bursitis to osteoarthritis, treatment is available that can get you moving again. If achy hips are slowing you down, keep reading to learn more about common hip conditions and options for treatment.

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between your bones and soft tissue. The bursae help reduce friction in areas including your shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Bursitis occurs when the bursa become inflamed and irritated. Typically, bursitis occurs in the hip and is called either trochanteric bursitis or hip bursitis, depending on its location.

Anyone can be affected by hip bursitis but is more common in middle-aged or elderly people. Women are more likely to have hip bursitis than men or younger people.

The following may contribute to hip bursitis:

  • Overuse – From running, stair climbing, bicycling, or standing for long periods of time
  • Hip injury – From a fall or bump onto your hip.
  • Spine disease – Includes scoliosis, arthritis, and other problems.
  • Uneven leg-length – Can affect how you walk and lead to irritation.
  • Previous hip surgery – Surgery and/or prosthetic implants can cause bursitis.
  • Bone spurs or calcium deposits – Developing within the tendons and causing inflammation.

Osteoarthritis is a common condition that can occur when the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away over time.  It most frequently develops in hips or other weight-bearing joints. The condition causes pain and stiffness and makes it difficult to perform everyday activities like getting out of a chair or going for a walk.

Anyone can develop osteoarthritis of the hip but middle-aged and older people are at higher risk.  Other factors include:

  • Increasing age
  • Family history of osteoarthritis
  • Previous injury to the hip joint
  • Obesity
  • Improper formation of the hip joint at birth

A break in the upper quarter of the thigh bone (femur) is considered a hip fracture, or broken hip. This condition is most frequently the result of a fall or blow to the side of the hip. Risk factors that weaken the bone and make the hip more susceptible to a fracture include osteoporosis, cancer, or stress injuries. The type of surgery used to treat a hip fracture is primarily based on how the bones and surrounding tissues have been affected and extent of the fracture.

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