If you’ve noticed any of these signs:

⚠️ Hip or thigh pain when walking or standing
⚠️ Morning stiffness or limited motion
⚠️ Over 50 years old and feeling your hips getting “stuck” or stiff

This one is for you!

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) 2025 Clinical Practice Guidelines:

The most effective way to manage hip osteoarthritis isn’t rest, heat, or ultrasound!

It’s active treatment guided by a Physical Therapist (PT).

Top Recommended Treatments: (Grade A Evidence)

1. Manual Therapy

Hands-on mobilization for restricted tissues (iliopsoas, glutes, hip capsule) to:

• restore range
• improve joint glide
• reduce stiffness

2. Exercise Therapy

Your PT designs a customized plan focusing on flexibility, strength, and endurance — especially your hip abductors, extensors, and rotators.

• 1–5 sessions per week, 30–120 mins each, for 5–16 weeks.

3. Dry Needling

Targeted to tight or painful muscles (like glute med, iliopsoas, TFL) to:

• improve short-term pain
• improve flexibility
• improve muscle activation

⚠️ Note: In New York State, physical therapists are not permitted to perform dry needling by law.

However, we can still achieve similar results through manual soft-tissue techniques, joint mobilization, and neuromuscular retraining to release tension, restore movement, and reduce pain effectively.

Additional (Grade B–C) Recommendations:

• Education and activity modification to reduce joint load
• Weight management with nutrition support
• Gait and balance training, including proper use of assistive devices

⚠️ What’s Not Recommended:

🚫 Ultrasound
unless you can’t do exercise therapy

🚫 Bracing
shouldn’t be used as a first-line treatment

Why You Need a Physical Therapist?

Because these treatments aren’t “one size fits all.”

✅ They require clinical assessment and hands-on expertise

✅ The right movement strategy prevents further wear

✅ Incorrect exercise may worsen symptoms

A licensed PT can help you retrain hip control, restore mobility, and get you back to moving confidently again.