Early-onset hip arthritis in young, active adults can first present as problems with simple daily activities like putting on socks or tying your shoes. Often ignored, it can lead to increased joint deterioration and even permanent disability. It can be treated with non-invasive conventional methods including physical therapy, activity modification, NSAIDs or corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections. If conventional measures fail, Regenerative Medicine options can be especially effective, including PRP or stem cell therapy.
Call (240) 754-7954 or contact us online to arrange a consultation with our Orthopedic and Sports Medicine specialists at our offices in Alexandria, Virginia, or Waldorf, Maryland.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is typically diagnosed after age 65, after developing slowly over time. The hip is considered the second most common large joint affected by arthritis. While the knee may be more frequently impacted, the hip is a primary site for degenerative, weight-related OA.
While symptoms most often begin to appear in people 50 or older, early-onset hip arthritis can begin at ages ranging from 30 to 40, and even 16 to 30 in young-onset cases. Early hip arthritis in active adults is frequently caused by high-impact activity or previous injury. It can also occur due to a variety of factors ranging from joint trauma, obesity, or rheumatoid arthritis to structural issues like hip dysplasia or impingement.
Early hip OA in active individuals involves the initial – and often still reversible – breakdown of cartilage and soft tissue within the hip joint. Because hip arthritis is progressive, early diagnosis, joint preservation strategies, activity guidelines and lifestyle changes are absolutely crucial for preventing further, permanent damage to the hip joint.
Though often viewed as a condition affecting the elderly, it is increasingly evident that active, younger adults can face higher risks if they consistently place intense, sustained stress on their joints. High activity often leads to premature cartilage degeneration. Early hip arthritis is increasingly common in active adults due to a number of primary factors:
Early-onset hip arthritis often first presents as subtle pain or stiffness. It can be mistaken for muscle strain in early years. Symptoms may include pain or stiffness in the groin, outer thigh or buttocks, especially when rising from a chair or after an extended period of inactivity like rising from bed in the morning.
Early signs and symptoms include:
Problems with Simple Daily Activities: Subtle losses in range of motion lead to difficulty turning in bed, putting on shoes or socks, cutting toenails, etc.
Stiffness: Morning stiffness or difficulty moving after sitting for long periods
Locking: Results from cartilage deterioration and the presence of loose fragments of bone debris or cartilage inhibiting smooth joint motion (closely associated with narrowing of the joint space)
Limited Flexion: Difficulty bringing the knee toward the chest, making activities like climbing stairs or into a high truck cab difficult
Reduced Abduction/Extension: Problems moving the leg sideways or backward
Activity-Related Symptoms: Pain during or after high-impact activities (e.g., running, pivoting, kicking, etc.) that improves with rest
Crepitus: A grinding, clicking, or grating sound/sensation when moving the hip, usually caused by cartilage loss with bone-on-bone friction
Pain: Range of motion limitations often experienced as deep pain in the groin, often radiating to the thigh, buttocks or even the knee
Instability: A feeling that the hip joint is unstable, especially as early hip arthritis progresses
Early-onset hip arthritis is diagnosed from a clinical exam and patient history. If the patient complains of the above symptoms, early hip arthritis is almost always implicated. Active individuals and athletes often delay seeking care and remain active in spite of the symptoms, attributing the symptoms to a pulled muscle or getting older. They often do not consult a medical professional until the symptoms become severe and the damage to the hip joint is substantial.
Orthopedic or sports medicine specialists often use ultrasound or X-rays to rule out other issues. Early evaluation after the condition develops can help to prevent further damage and, in some cases, even permanent disability.
For active adults with early-onset hip arthritis, recommended activities include moderate-intensity, low-impact aerobic activity combined with strength training. The priorities are to:
Core activity guidelines include:
High Impact Activity: Activities like running, jumping and heavy lifting can worsen symptoms.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Avoid activities that involve high-intensity bursts of activity or abrupt changes in direction.
Excessive Rotation: Avoid activities with excessive twisting of the hip (e.g., certain tennis or golf swings).
Joint preservation strategies for early hip arthritis in active adults focus on avoiding further hip deterioration with a combination of lifestyle and activity adjustments, targeted physical therapy, medication and minimally invasive procedures.
Key preservation strategies may range from a specially designed program of low-impact exercise, to physical therapy, weight management or regenerative options like PRP and Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to manage pain and improve function. Activity modification, too, involves identifying and avoiding the specific activities or movements that cause you pain.
Non-surgical preservation strategies like physical therapy focus on strengthening the glutes, core, and hip muscles to support the joint and improve your range of motion. Replacing high-impact activities like running, jumping and lifting weights with lower-impact activities like cycling, swimming, elliptical training, and walking can keep the joint mobile with less impact and stress required.
Reducing body weight decreases load bearing on the hip joint, which can slow progression of hip arthritis. NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
When conservative methods are insufficient, two options can address the underlying structural issues involved in early hip arthritis: Hip Arthroscopy or Osteotomy.
Less-invasive options like hyaluronic acid for lubrication for short-term pain relief, and PRP or Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for regenerative medicine options are strategies designed to help active individuals maintain a high level of function for as long as possible. Regenerative medicine, in particular, can repair tissue and reduce long-term pain by stimulating natural healing rather than simply managing symptoms.
New options in Regenerative Medicine are continually being developed, and our team stays on top of the latest developments. Contact us online or call (240) 754-7954 to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists at the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics to see how you can potentially benefit from the emerging power of Regenerative Medicine and other options for early hip arthritis.
While not every injury requires immediate medical attention, you should always seek medical care if your pain, stiffness or loss of range of motion continue to worsen. It is essential to rule out fractures or severe tears and prevent long-term pain or disability. You actually should seek urgent care if your hip function does not improve with rest, is unstable, cannot bear any weight, has deformity or shows significant bruising or swelling.
Untreated early hip arthritis can progress to the point of permanent damage to the joint and complete disability.
It is important to find an orthopedic sports medicine specialist who is not only experienced in dealing with conventional treatment methods for arthritis and other joint conditions, but who is also knowledgeable about emerging Regenerative Medicine therapies.
There are a number of conditions that respond well to Regenerative Medicine treatments like Prolotherapy, PRP and Stem Cell Therapy – and Early Hip Arthritis is among them. This advanced level of care is appropriate when:
For more questions about your options for early hip arthritis, speak with our experts today to see if we can keep you moving in the right direction with joint preservation strategies, activity guidelines and leading-edge treatment. Let our team at the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics help you achieve your goals and enhance your health and wellness goals.
Call (240) 754-7954 or contact us online to arrange a consultation with our Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine specialists at our offices in Alexandria, Virginia, or Waldorf, Maryland.
