Hip Osteoarthritis Physiotherapy
Assessment and rehabilitation for hip stiffness and activity-related pain, with practical support for walking and daily movement.
Hip osteoarthritis can make walking, dressing or getting into a car more difficult. Pain may be felt in the groin or thigh and sometimes around the knee, so the painful area alone does not establish the cause. Unlike outer-hip tendon pain, this guide concerns the hip joint. Care focuses on maintaining useful movement and strength while recognising when medical review is needed.
This guide is general information and does not replace a clinical assessment.
When to get urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E for severe hip pain after a fall or injury, inability to walk or bear weight, or new tingling or loss of feeling after injury. Sudden severe pain without injury or a hot swollen hip needs an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 advice. Do not assume these symptoms are a routine arthritis flare.
NHS: Hip pain- Your clinic
- Newham clinic & directions
Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, Plaistow, London E13 8SD
- Self-pay
£60 for a 30-minute physiotherapy appointment.
Prices & self-pay- Health insurance
Cover depends on your plan and chosen physiotherapist.
Insurance & cash-plan guidance
Common Symptoms
Groin or hip aching with walking, standing or other weight-bearing activity
Stiffness after rest, with reduced ease putting on socks or shoes
Difficulty rotating or bending the hip when getting into a car or using a low chair
Reduced walking distance, a limp or discomfort spreading towards the thigh or knee
Seek Prompt Medical Advice If You Have
Severe hip pain after a fall or injury, or inability to walk or bear weight: call 999 or go to A&E
New tingling or loss of feeling in the hip or leg after injury: call 999 or go to A&E
Sudden severe hip pain without an injury, or a hot swollen hip: seek an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 advice
Hip pain with feeling unwell, or symptoms worsening and disrupting sleep: seek medical advice rather than assuming a routine flare
If you are unsure, call NHS 111 or seek urgent medical care.
Assessment
Discuss symptom location and how dressing, walking, sitting and sleep are affected
Check hip movement, leg strength and walking pattern in relation to your usual activities
Consider the lower back, knee and outer-hip tissues rather than assuming all hip pain is arthritis
Agree activity goals and identify unusual symptoms or persistent restrictions that need medical input
Treatment
Develop hip and leg strengthening exercises that match current movement and load tolerance
Combine comfortable mobility practice with suitable general fitness activity
Work on everyday tasks such as chair transfers and walking, with pacing or support where helpful
Use manual therapy only alongside exercise if appropriate, and review progress against agreed daily-life goals
Aftercare & self-management
At your appointment, agree which exercises to do, how often to practise them and when to review your progress.
Plan shorter, regular periods of activity and adjust distance if a long walk causes a sustained flare
Try a more comfortable chair height or dressing method instead of repeatedly forcing a painful position
Practise your agreed exercises consistently and report persistent worsening rather than abandoning activity altogether
Discuss walking aids, footwear or relevant weight-management support with your clinician rather than buying equipment blindly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is groin pain always hip arthritis?+
No. Muscles, tendons and several other conditions can cause groin pain. A pattern of stiffness and activity-related pain may suggest a joint problem, but assessment is needed. New severe pain or a painful swelling should not be self-diagnosed from a guide.
Should I stop walking if I have hip osteoarthritis?+
Usually the aim is to find a tolerable amount of movement, not stop everything. Your plan can use shorter walks, suitable fitness alternatives and strengthening. Difficulty bearing weight or severe new pain requires medical assessment before continuing.
Can physiotherapy reverse hip osteoarthritis?+
Physiotherapy does not reverse joint changes. It can support strength, mobility and ways to manage daily activities. Progress is judged against goals such as walking further or dressing more easily, not a promise to restore a normal-looking scan.
When should I discuss a hip replacement?+
If pain, stiffness or reduced function substantially affects quality of life despite suitable non-surgical management, speak to your GP about referral options. Exercise may help maintain function before or after surgery, but does not replace that shared medical decision.
Related Pages
Explore related treatments and condition guides.
Further reading
For public health information, self-care guidance and advice on when to seek medical help:
- NICE: osteoarthritis diagnosis and management
- NHS: osteoarthritis symptoms
- County Durham and Darlington NHS: hip osteoarthritis
- NHS: hip pain in adults
About your care at Nexus: meet our physiotherapists and read our clinical governance information.