Hip pain, the sensation of the hip giving away, clicking and popping signs, muscle weakness, and limited mobility are common hip problems experienced by older adults who seek consultation with Dr Niraj Vora at our medical facility in Mumbai.

Hip instability always happens to be the most common cause of all the above problems, and addressing these core issues has significantly improved the hip condition. So what is hip instability, what causes it, and how is it treated? With inputs from leading hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai, Dr Niraj Vora, we have answered all the common questions in this blog. Read on to know:

What is Hip Instability?

Hip instability refers to a condition where the hip near the socket exhibits excessive or abnormal movement leading to loss or unstable hip joint, which results in hip pain and a feeling of hip giving away.

In a stable hip joint, the ligaments, muscles, and bones work together in balance to create robust balance and movement. When the balance between these components is lost for some reason (hip conditions), this cohesiveness is lost, leading to excessive movements, pain, and weakness.

So what causes the hip components to lose their balance and lead to hip instability?

What Causes Hip Instability?

Any medical condition that disrupts the health of each component in the hip joint complex, such as ligaments, bones, muscles, or the joint itself, will eventually trigger excessive force that leads to hip instability. Conditions that cause imbalance and trigger this instability can include osteoarthritis, trauma, or even natural conditions like muscle weakness or loose ligaments.

“Hip instability can happen to anyone who experiences such a condition, but since elderly people are more prone to them, they may suffer a higher chance of experiencing hip instability problems,” says the leading hip replacement surgeon in India, Dr Niraj Vora. So how can one identify the hip pain caused by hip instability?

Signs and Symptoms of Hip Instability:

The clicking and popping sounds of the hip, the feeling of the hip joint giving away, excessive and abnormal hip motion, limited hip mobility, swelling of the hip joint, and balance problems are some of the most common signs of hip instability that older people commonly experience.

Treatment Options for Hip Instability:

Treatment for mild hip instability usually starts with physical therapy, where exercises that strengthen the hip muscles and improve the range of motion and flexibility are prescribed. Assisted devices are recommended for older people to further help with their daily movements. Medication to reduce hip pain and relief injections are also leveraged to manage the pain emanating from the joint.

Surgical procedures are only resorted to in severe cases of hip instability based on the severity of the underlying problems. Hip arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, or even total hip replacement are some common hip surgeries performed to correct the problem and eliminate the instability problem. The treatment procedure for the hip instability problem is tailored according to the specific cause of the problem, age, medical status, and outcome expectations of the patient.

If you are looking for hip instability treatment in Mumbai, Dr. Niraj Vora is the best hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai, with an excellent track record in treating hip instability with surgical and non-surgical treatments. You can contact him here: +91-22-6686 8600