Around 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis.
Though many associate arthritis primarily with the hands and fingers, a large percentage of that number suffer in another part of the body - the hip.
Hip arthritis is a degenerative condition that can adversely affect quality of life, making it a struggle to walk and move without pain.
For a better understanding of the condition, here is an overview of the joint that is affected as well as the types of arthritis.
Hip Joint A major point of support, the hip joint distributes about three times your body weight during routine activities because of the muscle pull and joint forces it creates.
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, with the acetabulum - formed by the pelvic structure - serving as the socket and the femoral head - located on the end of the femur - as the ball.
Ligaments, cartilage and muscles play key roles in stabilizing the hip, preventing dislocation, providing shock absorption and supporting normal walking.
Limping, leg length inequality and disability can occur should any of the precise relationships around the hip joint be altered due to injuries or conditions.
Types of Arthritis Any condition that causes degeneration of the hip joint is defined as hip arthritis, though fractures and other injuries can produce hip degeneration.
Surgical reconstruction like total hip replacement may be necessary in severe cases.
Arthritis is a serious and painful experience for many across the country.
Shedding light on hip arthritis and its effects can help you better evaluate the steps you need to take to counteract it.
Though many associate arthritis primarily with the hands and fingers, a large percentage of that number suffer in another part of the body - the hip.
Hip arthritis is a degenerative condition that can adversely affect quality of life, making it a struggle to walk and move without pain.
For a better understanding of the condition, here is an overview of the joint that is affected as well as the types of arthritis.
Hip Joint A major point of support, the hip joint distributes about three times your body weight during routine activities because of the muscle pull and joint forces it creates.
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, with the acetabulum - formed by the pelvic structure - serving as the socket and the femoral head - located on the end of the femur - as the ball.
Ligaments, cartilage and muscles play key roles in stabilizing the hip, preventing dislocation, providing shock absorption and supporting normal walking.
Limping, leg length inequality and disability can occur should any of the precise relationships around the hip joint be altered due to injuries or conditions.
Types of Arthritis Any condition that causes degeneration of the hip joint is defined as hip arthritis, though fractures and other injuries can produce hip degeneration.
- Osteoarthritis - This degenerative condition can affect joints throughout the body, as well as the hip.
Loss of articular cartilage can occur over time, causing an increase in pain.
Joint space narrowing, loss of motion and bone spurs are possible results of osteoarthritis. - Rheumatoid arthritis - The joint lining in the body is affected by this inflammatory condition.
Articular cartilage and surrounding tissue is destroyed by the inflammatory response in the joint lining. - Osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis - One of the most destructive conditions to affect the hip, osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis is when the bone within the femoral head dies.
Ultimately, large segments of the bone supporting the cartilage of the hip joint collapse and the hip is severely and permanently damaged.
Surgical reconstruction like total hip replacement may be necessary in severe cases.
Arthritis is a serious and painful experience for many across the country.
Shedding light on hip arthritis and its effects can help you better evaluate the steps you need to take to counteract it.