Exercise improves function and reduces pain in hip osteoarthritis

Taking exercise can help reduce the symptoms of hip osteoarthritis, says research published in Deutsches Arzteblatt (a German medical journal).

Experts found that people with a normal level of vitality who did 12 weeks of exercise therapy experienced an improvement in function and reduction in pain compared to people who had no treatment or who received an ultrasound treatment of the hip. Despite this finding, there was no significant improvement in general health-related quality of life among the exercise group.

The study group involved says that more research is needed to look at the impact of exercise therapy on people in a “generally poorer state of health”.

A spokesperson for Arthritis Research UK comments:

“We understand the added benefits that exercise provides patients who may be experiencing pain in their hip. Non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming and cycling could be most helpful to people with arthritis to reduce the stress on the joint.”

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Image credit: Danny Fowler