Osteoarthritis of the Hip: Rehabilitation and Treatment Strategies, 2nd Edition

Course Description

Course Description:

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint is the most common cause of hip pain in older adults (Chen, Piggot, & Klatt, 2013). Despite the relatively high prevalence rate of hip OA, only limited literature focuses on conservative treatment of the condition. The Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has developed evidence-based practice guidelines for the management of patients with hip osteoarthritis (Cibulka et al., 2017). Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants possess the clinical expertise to provide a comprehensive approach to the treatment of individuals with hip OA. However, current practice patterns do not consistently follow recommendations from the published guidelines. Intervention strategies are often based on anecdotal evidence as opposed to scientific evidence. Passive treatment strategies and physical modalities are often overused when graded exercise and patient education should be emphasized. For treating individuals with hip OA, there is a need for structured and progressive rehabilitation strategies rooted in evidence-based practice.