Hip pain can affect everyone from infants to the elderly. Hip problems are more common in society.The hip is a ball-and-socket joint and strong enough to take the load of the body.

Whenever a person complains of hip pain, he probably means that he has pain either in the buttocks or in the upper lateral thigh or in the groin. There is no doubt that the disease of the hip can cause pain in these areas but there can also be a referred pain from the back.

Symptoms
Inability to sit cross-legged. Pain which is worse in the morning and improves during the day may be caused by hip arthritis. Pain that radiates to the leg from the hip. Hip Pain with movement is most often caused by a muscle injury or bursitis. Pain during weight-bearing activity increases when a person stands or walks, forcing him to limp. This type of pain is usually caused due to the hip joints involvement. The common causes of hip pain are due to lower back problems, fractures, insufficient blood flow to the hip and arthritis. Hip fractures become more common as people aged. Hip arthritis affects young and middle-aged persons and is classified as primary and secondary osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is an age-related wear and tear problem. Secondary osteoarthritis occurs at a younger age and is more common. Rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis and connective tissue disorders, etc, lead to secondary osteoarthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis occurs after a severe injury to the hip.

Treatment
Try to avoid the activities that aggravate pain. As pain decreases, gradually start exercises. Swimming may be a good option because it stretches the muscles and builds good muscle tone without straining the hip joint.

Prevention
Try to avoid the activities that aggravate pain like running on an uneven surface and Avoid falls.  Sleep on your non-painful side with a pillow between the legs. Use Cane which prevents the pressure on the hip joint. Handle of the cane should be at the level of the hip pocket. While using the cane, the elbow should be bend at 20-30 degrees. Cane should be held by an opposite hand.

Exercises
When pain improves, slowly and carefully resume walking

Lying sideways, raise the upper leg upwards. Stay for a count of five and return back. Repeat 10 times.

Lying on the back with legs straight and toes pointed upwards. Rotate the toes inward and then outwards 10 times.

Support yourself on your elbows and knees, with hands together in front. With your back straight, raise one bent leg up in the air. Return back and repeat it 10 times.

Stand straight with your hands on the wall. Bend one leg to 90 degrees backwards and push the sole of your foot away from you. Repeat five times.

Lie flat on your back with your heels up on a bench/chair, knees bent at 90 degrees and hands at the sides. Raise the pelvis off the floor by squeezing the buttocks until your body is straight from the knees to the chest. Repeat it five times.

Imp: Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward. Those who don’t get relief from conservative treatment are advised hip replacement surgery.