Many myths circulate about hip osteoarthritis. Sorting them out helps you make better decisions for your health.

Hip osteoarthritis causes groin pain, stiffness and trouble walking or putting on shoes. Targeted exercise reduces symptoms.

What to know

  • Strengthening the glutes relieves the hip.
  • Gentle mobility maintains the joint.
  • Keeping a healthy weight lowers the load.
  • Regular walking helps keep range of motion.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Stopping walking.
  • Ignoring a developing limp.
  • Skipping strengthening.

When to see a physiotherapist

A physiotherapist can help when pain persists for several weeks, worsens, limits your activities, or comes with weakness, numbness or loss of function. They assess the situation, rule out red flags and build a tailored plan. In Quebec, no medical referral is required, though your insurer may ask for one.

The advantage of in-home physiotherapy

In-home physiotherapy treats hip osteoarthritis where life actually happens. Instead of recreating a problem in a clinic, the physiotherapist sees your real stairs, chair, bed and routine, then tailors each exercise to that environment. For adults 50 and older, it removes travel, waiting and the stress of getting there.