Hip Osteoarthritis: What Physical Therapists Are Getting WRONG (Evidence-Based Guide)

By dpope2020

March 20, 2026

#arthritissymptoms, #arthritistreatment, #jointpain, #jointpainrelief, #jointpaintreatment, #osteoarthritiship, #osteoarthritistreatment, arthritis, dan pope, dr. david middaugh, el paso manual physical therapy, exercise for hip pain, fitness pain free, hip arthritis, hip arthritis treatment, hip osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis exercises, hip osteoarthritis treatment, hip pain relief, hip pain stretches, hip strengthening exercises, osteoarthritis, physiotherapist

Hip Osteoarthritis: What Physical Therapists Are Getting WRONG (Evidence-Based Guide)

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In today's video we go over, Hip Osteoarthritis: What Physical Therapists Are Getting WRONG (Evidence-Based Guide) - FPF Show Episode 191:

  • 0:00 Hip Osteoarthritis: What PTs Need to Know
  • 0:25 Hip OA Explained: Definition, Joint Changes & Why It Matters
  • 2:46 Hip OA Prevalence: How Common Is It Really?
  • 3:51 Who Is Most at Risk for Hip Osteoarthritis?
  • 5:06 Hip OA Risk Factors: Injury, Obesity, Dysplasia, CAM Morphology
  • 6:52 Hip OA Comorbidities: Anxiety, Depression, Cardiovascular Risk
  • 8:03 Hip OA Pathogenesis: Why the Joint Degenerates
  • 8:42 Cartilage, Bone & Synovium Changes in Hip OA
  • 12:48 Inflammation, Cytokines & Obesity in Osteoarthritis
  • 20:19 Clinical Presentation: How Hip OA Patients Typically Present
  • 21:39 Gait Changes in Hip OA: Antalgic Gait, Abduction Lurch & More
  • 22:59 Clinical Exam for Hip OA: ROM Loss, IR Limits & Key Findings
  • 24:12 Special Exam Findings: Which Tests Help Rule In Hip OA?
  • 26:15 Best Outcome Measures for Hip Osteoarthritis
  • 30:35 Hip OA vs FAI: Key Clinical Differences
  • 38:36 X-Rays for Hip OA: Kellgren-Lawrence Grading Explained
  • 40:13 Differential Diagnosis: Hip OA vs Lumbar, SIJ, Gluteal Tendinopathy & More
  • 48:12 Final Thoughts + Next Steps for Clinicians

Creaky old hips,

- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS

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Thank you!

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS

References: 

  1. Shtroblia V, Petakh P, Kamyshna I, Halabitska I, Kamyshnyi O. Recent advances in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a narrative review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Jan 21;12:1523027. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1523027. PMID: 39906596; PMCID: PMC11790583.

  2. Primorac D, Molnar V, Rod E, Jeleč Ž, Čukelj F, Matišić V, Vrdoljak T, Hudetz D, Hajsok H, Borić I. Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review of Pathogenesis and State-Of-The-Art Non-Operative Therapeutic Considerations. Genes (Basel). 2020 Jul 26;11(8):854. doi: 10.3390/genes11080854. PMID: 32722615; PMCID: PMC7464436.

  3. Katz JN, Arant KR, Loeser RF. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Feb 9;325(6):568-578. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.22171. PMID: 33560326; PMCID: PMC8225295.

  4. Jang S, Lee K, Ju JH. Recent Updates of Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment on Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 5;22(5):2619. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052619. PMID: 33807695; PMCID: PMC7961389.

  5. Osteoarthritis year in review 2024: Epidemiology and therapyCourties, Alice et al.Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Volume 32, Issue 11, 1397 - 1404

  6. Hannon, Charles P. MD, MBA; Delanois, Ronald E. MD; Nandi, Sumon MD, MBA; Fillingham, Yale MD;  Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip Work Group Staff of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons;  Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip Work Group Staff of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guideline Summary Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 32(20):p e1027-e1034, October 15, 2024. | DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00420 

  7. Krishnamurthy A, Lang AE, Pangarkar S, Edison J, Cody J, Sall J. Synopsis of the 2020 US Department of Veterans Affairs/US Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline: The Non-Surgical Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021 Sep;96(9):2435-2447. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.03.017. PMID: 34481599.

  8. Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits—Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2025 Thomas A. Koc Jr, Michael Cibulka, Keelan R. Enseki, Jennifer T. Gentile, Cameron W. MacDonald, Robert C. Kollmorgen, and RobRoy L. Martin Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2025 55:11, CPG1-CPG31

  9. Does This Patient Have Hip Osteoarthritis?The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2019. Metcalfe D, Perry DC, Claireaux HA, et al.

  10. Saalfeld W, Mixon AM, Zelie J, Lydon EJ. Differentiating Psoriatic Arthritis from Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review and Guide for Advanced Practice Providers. Rheumatol Ther. 2021 Dec;8(4):1493-1517. doi: 10.1007/s40744-021-00365-1. Epub 2021 Sep 14. PMID: 34519965; PMCID: PMC8572231.