Common Causes of Wear and Tear in the Hip

Wear and tear in the hip is the most common cause of pain in the hip. This type of wear and tear in the hip is an escalating disorder, meaning it starts slowly and gets worse with time.

The hip joint is like a ball and socket. It allows the movement of fluids when fit together. A cushion of cartilage prevents excess friction. With age and constant use, the cartilage wears down, causing the hip bone to fracture.

Here are the most common causes of wear and tear in the hip: 

Osteoarthritis

Wear and tear in the joints usually happens due to osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is most common in the ageing population.

It occurs when there is an injury to a joint, which causes a break down of cartilage tissue. Pain, stiffness, and loss of movement in osteoarthritis are due to bone-on-bone action. 

Tendonitis

Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. When the tendons (a fibrous structure that joins the muscles to the bone in the hip) become irritated, inflamed, or swollen, it can cause immense pain.

 This type of wear and tear in the hip happens if we overuse the hip or when the muscles lose its elasticity. 

Hip Fracture

Hip fracture can be a life-threatening and serious injury involving many complications. This is most common in the elderly and the risk of hip fracture rises with age. Falls are the most common cause of hip fracture and the treatment for this is usually surgery. 

Dislocation

An accident, trauma or sports injury can cause the hip joint to become dislocated.

Dislocation of the hip is the disruption of the joint between the femur and pelvis. Hip dislocation is a very painful injury that can put your hip joint out of action, making walking nearly impossible. 

We tend to easily ignore normal wear and tear in the hip, but it can worsen with age and it may cause flare-ups.

To keep the problem at bay, it is advisable to avoid movements or activities that are likely to cause inflammation.  Because the conditions of wear and tear in the hip can be serious, it is important to seek medical attention.