Hip
The hip joint connects the femur, or thigh, to the pelvis. A normal functioning hip allows you to stand, walk, run and accomplish most daily tasks.
Hip pain can be caused by a variety of factors but the most common are arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis.
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which causes the joint cartilage in the hip to wear down. When it does, the bone-to-bone contact causes pain, stiffness and swelling.
- Hip bursitis causes pain over the outside of the upper thigh. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that allows smooth motion between two uneven surfaces. When the bursa becomes inflamed, the symptoms can be quite painful, since the tendon must move to activate the hip muscles. When it does, it irritates the bursa even more, causing pain.
- Tendonitis is generally caused by overuse or age-related changes to the tendon. If the tendon becomes inflamed, then movement of the hip joint can become painful.
Other causes of hip pain include hip fractures that hospitalize more than 300,000 Americans each year. Broken hips are especially common among elderly individuals who are more likely to fall than younger people. However, high-impact injuries from contact sports or accidents can fracture a hip in younger individuals too.
If you are experiencing hip pain, you should speak with an orthopedic physician who identify the source of the pain and recommend proper medical treatment.