Hip Osteoarthritis (Adjunct Pain Management)

Common Symptoms

• Groin, hip, or thigh pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest, in earlier stages
• Morning stiffness that improves within about 30 minutes of moving around
• Pain that can become more constant, including at rest or at night, as the condition progresses
• Reduced hip range of motion, particularly with rotation
• Gradually worsening function with walking, stairs, or putting on shoes and socks

Why It Happens

Cartilage breaks down faster than the joint can repair it over years, from a combination of mechanical wear, prior injury, joint shape, body weight, and genetic factors.

Why It Can Become Persistent

Cartilage has very limited ability to regenerate on its own, which is why hip osteoarthritis is generally a chronic, often progressive condition — management is aimed at reducing pain and maintaining function, not reversing the underlying joint changes.

Who Commonly Gets It

Hip osteoarthritis becomes more common with age and is more likely with prior hip injury or dysplasia, higher body weight, and a family history of osteoarthritis.

How It Is Usually Diagnosed

Diagnosis is typically based on history, physical exam, and X-ray showing joint space narrowing and other characteristic changes.

Traditional Treatment Options

• Exercise and weight management: Structured exercise and, where relevant, weight management are foundational, evidence-based first steps.
• Physical therapy: Targeted strengthening around the hip to reduce joint load.
• NSAIDs: Used for pain and symptom control, per your physician's guidance.
• Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injection: Can provide temporary symptom relief for some patients.
• Assistive devices: A cane or walker can help offload the joint and improve function.
• Total hip replacement: The definitive treatment for advanced, significantly limiting osteoarthritis that hasn't responded to conservative care.

Why Someone Might Start Looking for Another Option

Many people manage hip OA symptoms for years with conservative care before considering surgery, and look for additional non-invasive options to help with pain and function along the way.

Where Shockwave Therapy May Fit

A double-blind, sham-controlled randomized trial of 148 patients found both focused and radial shockwave therapy significantly reduced pain and improved function scores through 8 weeks compared with baseline, with focused shockwave outperforming radial shockwave on both measures. We want to be direct about the limits of this evidence: it's a single trial with only 8 weeks of follow-up, so we don't yet know how long any benefit lasts, and — as with knee osteoarthritis — this evidence supports a pain-and-function adjunct, not a way to reverse cartilage loss or slow structural progression of arthritis.

How Shockwave Treatment Works for This Area

Acoustic pressure waves are applied around the hip joint, generally as an addition to an existing exercise and weight-management plan rather than a stand-alone treatment.

What the Treatment Feels Like

Most patients describe a firm tapping or pressure sensation around the hip; your provider will discuss what to expect based on your evaluation.

What Happens During Your First Visit

Your visit begins with a provider evaluation focused on your history and a physical exam relevant to your complaint. If shockwave therapy is determined to be clinically appropriate, your first treatment can typically be provided the same visit. See our What to Expect page for the full walkthrough.

Who May Not Be Appropriate

• Anyone who has not yet had a medical evaluation and imaging to confirm the diagnosis and severity
• Advanced osteoarthritis where joint replacement is already indicated and being pursued
• Active infection, open wounds, or certain bone conditions at the treatment site
• Certain circulatory, neurological, or bleeding-related conditions, per your provider's screening

This list is not exhaustive. Your provider will screen for contraindications during your evaluation.