Hip Osteoarthritis
Table of Contents
If your groin hurts when you walk — hip osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis is a condition in which the joint cartilage covering the femoral head and the acetabulum gradually wears down, causing pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Although it is less commonly recognized than knee osteoarthritis, its impact on walking ability can actually be greater.
Characteristic symptoms
Because the hip joint is located deep inside the body, it is often difficult to localize the pain accurately. Patients sometimes feel pain only in the knee or thigh and discover the hip problem only later.
- Groin pain: The most typical pattern — deep pain at the front of the groin.
- Restricted cross-legged sitting (hip external rotation): It becomes increasingly difficult to sit cross-legged on the floor.
- Pain on walking: Pain at the start of walking (start-up pain) and worsening after long walks.
- Restricted internal rotation: Reduced range of internal rotation of the hip is an early sign.
Korean medicine treatment strategy
In Korean medicine, hip osteoarthritis falls under the category of bi-syndrome (痺症), with disturbed qi-blood circulation and liver-kidney deficiency (肝腎不足) as the underlying causes.
- Acupuncture: Stimulates points around the hip such as Huantiao (GB30) and Juliao (GB29) to relieve pain and improve circulation
- Herbal medicine (Gwanjeoldan): Modified Dokhwalgisaeng-tang and Yukmijihwang-tang tonify liver and kidney, and slow cartilage degeneration
- Chuna manipulation: Hip joint mobilization preserves range of motion and prevents joint capsule contracture
- Moxibustion: Delivers warming stimulation deep into the hip to promote circulation
Lifestyle: weight and gait
Losing 1 kg of body weight reduces the load on the hip by about 3 kg, so weight control is essential. When using a cane, hold it in the hand opposite the painful hip — this can reduce hip loading by about 40%. Aquatic exercise is the best way to maintain muscle strength while minimizing joint stress.