MEDICAL

REHABILITATION FOR
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How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

Your physical therapist will explain what hip OA is, how it is treated, the benefits of exercise, the importance of increasing overall daily
physical activity, and how to protect the hip joint while walking, sitting, climbing stairs, standing, carrying loads, and lying in bed.

Testing will reveal any specific physical problems you have that are related to hip OA, such as loss of motion, muscle weakness, or balance
problems. Addressing the problems in surrounding body regions, such as the spine and the lower extremity, is important to the treatment of hip
OA.

The pain of hip OA can be reduced through simple, safe, and effective physical activities like walking, riding a bike, or swimming.

Although physical activity can delay the onset of disability from hip OA, people may avoid being physically active because of their pain and
stiffness, confusion about how much and what exercise to do, and not knowing when they will see benefits. Your physical therapist will be able
to guide you in learning a personal exercise program that will help reduce your particular pain and stiffness.
YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST WILL WORK WITH
YOU TO:
• REDUCE YOUR PAIN
• IMPROVE YOUR LEG, HIP, AND BACK MOTION
• IMPROVE YOUR STRENGTH, STANDING
BALANCE, AND WALKING
ABILITY
• SPEED HEALING AND YOUR RETURN TO
ACTIVITY AND SPORT
Reduce pain. Your physical therapist can use different types of treatments and technologies
to control and reduce your pain, including ice, heat, electrical stimulation, taping, exercises,
and

hands-on (manual) therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and soft-tissue

mobilization.

Improve motion. Your physical therapist will choose specific activities and treatments to
help restore normal movement in the leg and hip. These might begin with "passive" motions
that the physical therapist performs for you to gently move your leg and hip joint, and
progress to active exercises and stretches that you perform yourself. Your physical therapist
also may use sustained stretches and manual therapy techniques that gently move the joint
and stretch the muscles around the joint.
Improve strength. Certain exercises will benefit healing at each stage of recovery; your
physical therapist will choose and teach you the appropriate exercises to steadily restore
your strength and agility. These may include using your own body weight as resistance,
or using weights, resistance bands, weight-lifting equipment, and cardio (heart) exercise
equipment, such as treadmills or stationary bicycles.

Speed recovery time. Your physical therapist will design a specific treatment program to
speed your recovery. Your therapist is trained and experienced in choosing the right
treatments and exercises to help you heal, return to your normal lifestyle, and reach your
goals faster than you are likely to do on your own.
Return to activities. Your physical therapist will design your treatment program to help
you return to work or sport in the safest, fastest, and most effective way possible. You
may engage in work retraining activities, or learn sport-specific techniques and drills to
help you achieve your goals. Activity modification is essential for a safe return to
activity, and to help control symptoms that may hinder your return.

If Surgery Is Necessary

In severe cases of hip OA, the hip joint degenerates until bone is rubbing on bone. This
condition can require hip joint replacement surgery. Physical therapy is an essential part
of postsurgical recovery, which can take several months.
If you undergo hip joint replacement surgery, a physical therapist will visit you in your
hospital room to help you get out of bed and teach you how to walk, and will explain any
movements that you must avoid to protect the healing hip area. Physical therapists will work
with you daily in the hospital and then in the clinic once you are discharged. They will be an
integral part of your care and recovery, helping you minimize pain, restore motion and
strength, and return to normal activities in the speediest yet safest manner possible after
surgery.
Can This Injury or Condition Be Prevented?

Hip OA may be prevented or limited by keeping the hip and leg muscles strong and
flexible, maintaining a healthy body weight and lifestyle, and having good balance and
body mechanics. Research shows that strengthening and stretching exercises for the hip,
core, and leg can minimize and reduce osteoarthritis pain and stiffness, so it is reasonable to
conclude that keeping those muscles strong and limber will help prevent painful
osteoarthritis symptoms and problems.

When you seek help once hip OA develops, your physical therapist can recommend a
home-exercise program to strengthen and stretch the muscles around your hip, upper leg,
and abdomen, to help prevent future hip pain and problems.
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