Hip joint is a ball and socket joint that allows the movement of thigh in different directions. It also allows the hip to bear weight of the body. Hip joint comprises of various structures like bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, lubricating fluid etc. Hip disorders can affect any of these parts, including ligaments and cartilage.
Causes of Hip Ailments
Hip is a very stable joint and it takes lot of force to hurt it. Other than this, following reasons may contribute to the development of hip ailments:
Symptoms of Hip Ailments
The symptoms of hip ailments depend upon the disorder and its extent (acute or chronic), But in majority of the cases, patient complains of the following problems associated with the hip joint:
These are just common symptoms but patient may have other symptoms too that should not be ignored as hip joint is one of the most important joint of our body. So anything that is not normal or is causing discomfort should be discussed with the doctor and treated accordingly.
Diagnosis of Hip Ailments
The diagnosis of hip ailments starts with a complete medical history of the patient. It is also required to consider family history of joint pains as some of these disorders run in families. This is followed by thorough physical examination of the joint to find any visible signs and assess its level of activity. In addition to these following diagnostic tests are almost always required to conclude the disorder:
Treatment of Hip Ailments
Treatment of hip problems specifically depends upon the cause and extent of disorder. It is required to first evaluate the damage that has already occurred and simultaneously start the treatment that would prevent further damage. Treatment may include some of the following: