We searched 100's of YouTube videos on this topic. These 5 had the most verified results. These videos have been scored by real community outcomes — people who tried the advice and reported measurable results weeks or months later.
Will Harlow – Over-Fifties Specialist Physio · Score: 83/100
“I had pain to walk for a lover a month . You explained compression directly and I did the strengthening exercises vs stretching now my pain is 95% go”
El Paso Manual Physical Therapy · Score: 82/100
“You don't understand how grateful I am to have found you here on YouTube! You have helped me so much on my knee arthritis, hip arthritis and sciatica ”
Tone and Tighten · Score: 81/100
“Update. I've been faithfully doing these & some from another of your w/o for hip pain now for 6 weeks and I want to thank you. I am 72 and have been r”
SpineCare Decompression and Chiropractic Center · Score: 80/100
“Yesterday Thursday 04 Jan 2024 I tried your exercises and it relieved my hip pain. I had a lot of discomfort while doing the deep stretches, but goodn”
SpineCare Decompression and Chiropractic Center · Score: 77/100
“This exercises works i could not walk, I can now run🎉”
One step at a time: for each stage of dealing with hip pain, the best resource we've found, of any type. Rated picks come first (videos scored by what viewers reported, books by what readers reported). Where nothing rated fits, we say so and point to the best guide or research. This is a reading list, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
Which kind of hip pain fits you best? (It filters the picks; a clinician can tell you for sure.)
Skip what you already know
About 12 h 21 min for the first pick in each step.
Step 1
Which kind of hip pain yours resembles, and what scans can and can't show. A pattern isn't a diagnosis: a physio or doctor can tell you which you have.
Start hereOur research summary26 sources · checked 17 Oct 20267 min
Hip pain: what the research says
Our summary of the trials and guidelines, each linked. It starts with the common kinds of hip pain and why arthritis, impingement shapes and labral tears on scans often don't match pain.
Outer-hip painGoal page
For pain on the outside of the hip (gluteal tendon pain, often called hip bursitis): our rated videos for it.
Impingement (FAI)Goal page
For groin or front-of-hip pain when bending, often in active people: our rated videos for hip impingement and the labral problems that often come with it.
Hip flexor painGoal page
Relieve tight hip flexors and hip flexor pain
For pain at the front of the hip from the hip flexor: our rated videos for hip flexor pain and tightness.
Guide
Hip pain: Symptoms, causes and treatment
Arthritis UK (UK charity; renamed from Versus Arthritis)
Plain-language UK guide to the causes of hip pain, including pain referred from the lower back and outer-hip pain (also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome), with treatment options, a hip osteoarthritis page and an illustrated exercise page.
Caution: General charity information; no named reviewers on the pages checked.
No rated book explains hip pain specifically. Explain Pain covers how persistent pain works but doesn't yet have enough reader reports to rate (see Books).
Step 2
What trials found for exercise, injections and surgery for each kind of hip pain, so you can weigh options with a clinician.
Start hereOur research summary26 sources · checked 17 Oct 20267 min
Hip pain: what the research says
Sets the trials side by side: education and exercise first for hip arthritis (and the 2026 Cochrane review that found smaller benefits), the LEAP trial for outer-hip pain, and surgery versus physiotherapy for impingement, where no placebo-surgery result exists yet.
On this page
Each finding shows who was studied, the type of evidence and its limits. Guidelines that disagree are shown separately.
On this page
Official directories by country, for an assessment and a plan that fits you.
No rated book or video helps with this decision, so this step uses our research summary.
Step 3
A plan for bad days and for the daily positions that load the hip, such as sleeping, sitting and stairs.
Start hereGuide
NHS England
A short plain-English guide to common causes of hip pain, self-care, and when to see a GP, contact NHS 111 or go to A&E, with links to self-refer to NHS physiotherapy in many areas, osteoarthritis treatment and hip replacement.
Caution: Brief; the referral routes apply to England only. Its self-care tips (ice, shoes, avoiding low chairs) are general rather than matched to a cause.
Guide
Healthdirect Australia (government-funded health information service)
Australian overview of hip pain causes, including greater trochanteric pain syndrome and pain from the lower back, with a clear list of when to see a doctor as soon as possible, plus pages on bursitis and hip replacement.
Caution: General overview; it doesn't cover impingement or labral tears.
We haven't found a rated book or video for day-to-day hip pain yet. These guides cover the basics; a physio can tailor them.
Step 4
Exercise that fits the kind of hip pain. Guidelines suggest a plan agreed with a physio or doctor; NICE notes pain may rise when exercise starts, and pain that keeps getting worse is a reason to get advice.
Outer-hip painVideoVettedVids 81 · hip bursitis14 min
5 Best Exercises to FIX Hip Bursitis (Pain on Outside of Hip)
Will Harlow – Over-Fifties Specialist Physio
The top-scored video for outer-hip pain from a physiotherapist, ranked by what viewers reported after trying it. The LEAP trial tested a different, in-person physio programme (14 sessions over 8 weeks), which did better overall than an injection.
Impingement (FAI)VideoVettedVids 87 · hip impingement11 min
How to Fix Hip Impingement (No More HIP PAIN!)
Squat University
The top-scored video for hip impingement, from a physical therapist.
Hip arthritisProgramme6 weeks
GLA:D education and exercise programme
GLA:D International
Guidelines put education and exercise first for hip arthritis. GLA:D runs 2 education sessions and 12 supervised exercise classes with trained physios in several countries; in the UK, ESCAPE-pain is similar (see Guides & sites).
Caution: Not rated by us: there are no outcome reports to score. Only available in some countries. The Research tab shows what its registry found, and why that can't be credited to the programme alone.
Hip flexor painVideoVettedVids 84 · hip flexor pain15 min
Best Exercises For Hip Flexor Pain - From a Physical Therapist
Tone and Tighten
The top-scored video for hip flexor pain from a physical therapist.
BookBook Rating 887 h
Christine Koth
The top-rated book that covers hip mobility as a core subject: 15 of 30 sampled readers said it helped and none said it didn't.
Caution: Single-muscle explanation for widespread pain is contested; author sells related release tools.
Step 5
What to expect from a hip replacement or keyhole surgery, and rehab afterwards. Your surgical team's instructions come first.
Start hereVideoVettedVids 82 · hip replacement recovery7 min
6 Week Post-op Visit after Hip Replacement Surgery
Dan Tomaszewski, MD - Door DOC
What a typical 6-week check-up after hip replacement covers, from a doctor.
VideoVettedVids 83 · hip replacement recovery22 min
Best Strength and Mobility Exercises 3 Months After Total Hip Replacement Surgery
E3 Rehab
The top-scored video for recovery after hip replacement, from physical therapists.
Caution: Exercises for about 3 months after surgery; your own surgical team's timeline comes first.
Goal page
Recover after hip replacement surgery
All our rated videos for hip replacement recovery.
Our research summary7 min
Hip pain: what the research says
What trials found on hip replacement versus exercise in severe arthritis, how long replacements last, rehab afterwards, and keyhole surgery for impingement.
No rated resource covers recovery from hip arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) yet.
Step 6
Staying active, weighing up weight and activity, and managing the mental side if pain has lasted months.
Start hereBookBook Rating 925 h
Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv
The top-rated book on this page: 10 of 30 sampled readers said it helped with long-lasting pain (mostly back pain, fibromyalgia and other pain, not hip pain specifically), and 1 said it didn't. Its method did well in a trial in chronic back pain, co-authored by the book's author, Alan Gordon (see Research).
Caution: Tested in back pain with no identified physical cause, not in hip pain, and not tested in pain from arthritis, injury or infection. Guidance is to have hip pain assessed first.
Hip arthritisChannelChannel Rating 78
Alyssa Kuhn, Arthritis Adventure
Doctor of physical therapy and osteoarthritis specialist
A channel focused on staying active with arthritis, rated from the videos of hers we have scored.
Caution: Some titles promise more than an exercise can (e.g. 'Eliminate Hip Pain When Getting In Your Car'). Sells a paid membership programme (Adventurers for Life).
Guide
Arthritis Foundation (US non-profit)
A self-guided walking programme for people with arthritis from the US Arthritis Foundation.
Caution: Not rated by us; the book version doesn't yet have enough reader reports to rate.
Our research summary7 min
Hip pain: what the research says
What research says about weight and hip arthritis (most of it comes from knees) and recreational running.
44 books on hip pain, hip arthritis and persistent pain checked; 19 had enough reader reports to rate (up to 30 Goodreads reviews each). A pick has to cover its stage as a core subject, so only 4 qualify; most hip-specific books don't yet have enough reviews to rate and are listed below as not yet rated. The Step by step tab fills the gaps with rated videos, guides and research. Books aren't a diagnosis; get new or worsening hip pain assessed by a clinician.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Tight Hip, Twisted Core
Christine Koth, 2019 · ★ 4.23 on Goodreads (549) · about 7 hours
Claim: Physical therapist; sells hip release toolsMethod from clinical or teaching practice
Helps a person with hip and related pain learn about the iliacus muscle and try self-release and stretching steps to relieve tension and manage pain.
“Book explained why driving hurts their hip; using tool regularly since, less hip pain than in six years”
✓ 15 readers said it helped
Scorecard
Reader outcomes 40%
99
Content quality 20%
72
Author credibility 20%
90
Goal relevance 10%
100
Rating and format 10%
58
What readers said helped (paraphrased)
Critics say: Single-muscle explanation for widespread pain is contested; author sells related release tools.
Rated for
Improve hip mobility and flexibility 88Understand the common causes of hip pain (osteoarthritis, gluteal tendinopathy, FAI and labral tears, referred pain) 85Prevent recurrence 85
Key takeaways
From the first 30 Goodreads reviews, read 17 October 2026, each coded as helped, didn't help, already knew it or no verdict. Weighted to all 549 ratings, about 99% of readers who said whether it helped said it did. 4 readers say the effect has lasted. No audiobook found.
Keep hips healthy long term
The Way Out
Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv, 2020 · ★ 4.38 on Goodreads (6,418) · about 5 hours
Claim: Psychotherapist; developed Pain Reprocessing TherapyMethod from clinical or teaching practice
Psychological techniques to reduce fear of pain and retrain pain signals, for persistent hip pain without ongoing tissue damage.
“Mind-body symptoms; four years later about 90% pain free, book was the start.”
✓ 10 readers said it helped · 1 said it didn't · 2 already knew most of it
Scorecard
Reader outcomes 40%
99
Content quality 20%
72
Author credibility 20%
90
Goal relevance 10%
100
Rating and format 10%
100
What readers said helped (paraphrased)
Already knew most of it
Critics say: Bold 'pain-free' framing; trial was in chronic back pain, and structural causes should be ruled out first.
Rated for
Manage the mental side of persistent pain (fear of movement, low mood, sleep) 92Understand how pain works, including persistent pain 89Self-manage a chronic condition with confidence 89
Key takeaways
From the first 30 Goodreads reviews, read 17 October 2026, each coded as helped, didn't help, already knew it or no verdict. Weighted to all 6,418 ratings, about 99% of readers who said whether it helped said it did. 4 readers say the effect has lasted. Audiobook, 4.8 h.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Dynamic Aging
Katy Bowman, 2017 · ★ 4.13 on Goodreads (544) · about 7 hours
Claim: PractitionerMethod from clinical or teaching practice
Gentle illustrated moves for stronger hips, balance and walking to help older adults manage stiffness and stay mobile.
“Exercises make difference in how they feel/move; daily flexibility and strength gains”
✓ 5 readers said it helped · 1 said it didn't · 4 already knew most of it
Scorecard
Reader outcomes 40%
97
Content quality 20%
72
Author credibility 20%
70
Goal relevance 10%
100
Rating and format 10%
56
What readers said helped (paraphrased)
Already knew most of it
Critics say: Alignment framework is Bowman's own with limited trial evidence; outcome stories come from four co-authors.
Rated for
Build hip and leg strength 83Improve hip mobility and flexibility 80Stay active for life with hip osteoarthritis 80Adjust daily habits that load a painful hip (sleeping, sitting, stairs, crossing legs) 80
Key takeaways
From the first 30 Goodreads reviews, read 17 October 2026, each coded as helped, didn't help, already knew it or no verdict. Weighted to all 544 ratings, about 97% of readers who said whether it helped said it did. 3 readers say the effect has lasted. No audiobook found.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Glute Lab
Bret Contreras and Glen Cordoza, 2019 · ★ 4.65 on Goodreads (848) · about 15 hours
Claim: PractitionerMethod from clinical or teaching practice
Detailed glute-strengthening exercises and programs that can support hip strength as part of a rehab or long-term plan.
“Completed 12-week program; strength numbers up, visible glute and thigh growth.”
✓ 4 readers said it helped
Scorecard
Reader outcomes 40%
99
Content quality 20%
62
Author credibility 20%
70
Goal relevance 10%
100
Rating and format 10%
55
What readers said helped (paraphrased)
Critics say: Physique and performance focus; pain is secondary, and at 600 pages it is long.
Rated for
Build hip and leg strength 82
Key takeaways
From the first 30 Goodreads reviews, read 17 October 2026, each coded as helped, didn't help, already knew it or no verdict. Weighted to all 848 ratings, about 99% of readers who said whether it helped said it did. 3 readers say the effect has lasted. No audiobook found.
Rated books where a stage is one of several topics rather than the core subject, so they aren't picks.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett, 2023
Self-tests and daily movement habits (hip mobility, floor sitting, walking) to manage stiffness and keep hips moving.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Kelly Starrett and Glen Cordoza, 2015
Ways to sit less, set up a workstation and do mobility work for stiff hips and back from long sitting.
Keep hips healthy long term
The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook
Clair Davies and others, 2001
Self-massage of hip, glute and thigh muscles to relieve and manage muscle-related pain that refers into the hip.
Keep hips healthy long term
Howard Schubiner and Michael Betzold, 2013
A 28-day writing and reflection program for persistent pain driven by learned nerve pathways, after structural causes are ruled out.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Pete Egoscue and Roger Gittines, 2009
Step-by-step stretches and positioning exercises, including hip-specific routines, aimed at relieving and managing chronic pain.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Jay Dicharry, 2023
Workouts to build hip stability, mobility and strength so runners can manage old injuries and run with less strain.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Kelly Starrett and Glen Cordoza, 2013
Helps an active person with hip stiffness or pain learn movement mechanics and self-mobilisation techniques to relieve and manage pain.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Bob Anderson, 1975
Simple illustrated stretches, including for hips and legs, to keep flexible and ease stiffness as part of a routine.
These cover a stage directly but don't have enough reader reports for a Book Rating. Listed for completeness, not as picks.
Understand your hip pain
Explain Pain
David S. Butler and G. Lorimer Moseley, 2002 · ★ 4.42 on Goodreads (1,166)
Explains why pain persists and how understanding the nervous system can help a person move more and manage hip pain.
Not rated: of 30 sampled Goodreads reviews, 2 said it helped and 1 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Understand your hip pain
Painful Yarns
G. Lorimer Moseley, 2007 · ★ 4.22 on Goodreads (277)
Short stories and metaphors that make pain science easier to grasp, as a primer before Explain Pain.
Not rated: of 24 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Understand your hip pain
Why Do I Hurt?
Adriaan Louw, 2013 · ★ 3.94 on Goodreads (129)
A short, plain-language explanation of how a sensitised nervous system can keep hip pain going, to support moving more.
Not rated: of 22 sampled Goodreads reviews, 2 said it helped and 1 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Fix Tight Hip Flexors
Lauren Bertolacci, 2013 · ★ 3.95 on Goodreads (198)
Helps a person with front-of-hip tightness try a short sequence of release, stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve stiffness and manage pain.
Not rated: of 13 sampled Goodreads reviews, 2 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Rehab Science
Tom Walters, 2023 · ★ 4.57 on Goodreads (152)
Three-phase exercise protocols for hip conditions (tendinopathy, impingement, labral tears, arthritis) to rehab and manage pain.
Not rated: of 14 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Rebuild strength and mobility
Better Hips, Better Life
Doug Kelsey, 2019 · ★ 4.00 on Goodreads (9)
Helps a person with hip arthritis understand joint loading and follow graded home exercises to manage pain and keep moving without surgery.
Not rated: of 2 sampled Goodreads reviews, 0 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Prepare for and recover from surgery
Life After Hip Replacement
Troy A. Miles, 2016 · ★ 4.13 on Goodreads (61)
Helps a person after total hip replacement plan home set-up, rehab steps and return to activities to recover safely.
Not rated: of 3 sampled Goodreads reviews, 0 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Prepare for and recover from surgery
My Hip Replacement Surgery: What To Expect
Rod Aries, 2014 · ★ 3.91 on Goodreads (56)
Helps a person preparing for hip replacement organise questions, home set-up and timelines before and after surgery.
Not rated: of 15 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Prepare for and recover from surgery
Get Hip!
Rob Taylor and Wayne Moschetti, 2018 · ★ 4.16 on Goodreads (51)
Helps a person considering hip replacement understand the journey from arthritis to surgery and recovery, and prepare practically.
Not rated: of 8 sampled Goodreads reviews, 0 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Prepare for and recover from surgery
Diary of a Hippie
John Harbour, 2017 · ★ 4.13 on Goodreads (31)
Helps a person facing hip replacement know what one patient felt and experienced from diagnosis through recovery.
Not rated: of 5 sampled Goodreads reviews, 0 said it helped and 1 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
Yoga for Pain Relief
Kelly McGonigal, 2009 · ★ 4.24 on Goodreads (303)
Gentle yoga postures, breathing and relaxation to ease tension and help manage chronic pain, including around the hips.
Not rated: of 30 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
Kate Lorig and others, 1994 · ★ 3.85 on Goodreads (181)
Helps a person with long-term hip or joint pain build self-management skills: goal setting, action plans, exercise, pacing and coping with pain.
Not rated: of 23 sampled Goodreads reviews, 2 said it helped and 2 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
Manage Your Pain
Michael K. Nicholas, 2006 · ★ 3.77 on Goodreads (124)
Pacing, goal-setting and coping skills to manage persistent hip pain and get back to daily activities.
Not rated: of 19 sampled Goodreads reviews, 2 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
Treat Your Own Hip
Robin McKenzie and others, 2020 · ★ 4.29 on Goodreads (52)
Helps a person with hip pain test which repeated movements ease their symptoms and follow a simple self-managed exercise routine to relieve and manage pain.
Not rated: of 6 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
The Arthritis Helpbook
Kate Lorig and James F. Fries, 1980 · ★ 3.47 on Goodreads (51)
Helps a person with arthritis-related hip pain use tested self-management skills: exercise planning, pain techniques, weight, fatigue and mood.
Not rated: of 7 sampled Goodreads reviews, 1 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Keep hips healthy long term
Stop Hip Bursitis Pain
Graham Wright, 2018 · ★ 3.53 on Goodreads (19)
Helps a person with outer-hip or buttock pain understand bursitis types and follow stretching, strengthening and home routines to relieve and manage it.
Not rated: of 2 sampled Goodreads reviews, 0 said it helped and 0 said it didn't; we need 3 saying it helped to rate a book.
Patient guides from health services, professional bodies and arthritis charities, plus two education-and-exercise programmes, with what each is best for and its limits. Listed, not scored. We score videos (VettedVids score), books (Book Rating) and channels (Channel Rating).
NHS England
Best for: A short plain-English guide to common causes of hip pain, self-care, and when to see a GP, contact NHS 111 or go to A&E, with links to self-refer to NHS physiotherapy in many areas, osteoarthritis treatment and hip replacement.
Who writes it: NHS website clinical content team; hip pain page last reviewed 20 November 2025.
Caution: Brief; the referral routes apply to England only. Its self-care tips (ice, shoes, avoiding low chairs) are general rather than matched to a cause.
Hip pain in adults · Osteoarthritis - Treatment and support · Hip replacement
OrthoInfo (AAOS) – Hip osteoarthritis, impingement and replacement
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Best for: Surgeon-written explainers of hip osteoarthritis, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and total hip replacement, from anatomy through non-surgical and surgical options to recovery.
Who writes it: Hip osteoarthritis page contributed/updated by Neil P. Sheth, MD, FAAOS, peer-reviewed by Mary K. Mulcahey, MD, FAAOS; FAI page by Jocelyn Ross Witstein (spelling as listed on page), Mary K. Mulcahey and J.W. Thomas Byrd (all MD, FAAOS).
Caution: Written by a surgical society, so surgery gets the most depth. The FAI page calls surgery 'currently the best way to treat painful FAI', which goes further than the randomised trials do (see Research).
Hip Osteoarthritis · Femoroacetabular Impingement · Total Hip Replacement
Mayo Clinic
Best for: A clear overview of labral tears and their links to impingement, injury and repetitive movement, including the point that many hip labral tears cause no signs or symptoms.
Who writes it: Mayo Clinic staff (US academic medical centre).
Caution: US-centred and brief; light on rehab detail.
Hip labral tear - Symptoms and causes · Hip labral tear - Diagnosis and treatment
Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis) – Hip pain
Arthritis UK (UK charity; renamed from Versus Arthritis)
Best for: Plain-language UK guide to the causes of hip pain, including pain referred from the lower back and outer-hip pain (also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome), with treatment options, a hip osteoarthritis page and an illustrated exercise page.
Who writes it: UK arthritis charity; reviewer details not verified.
Caution: General charity information; no named reviewers on the pages checked.
Hip pain: Symptoms, causes and treatment · Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip: Symptoms, causes and treatment · Exercises for the hips
Arthritis Foundation (US) – Osteoarthritis of the hip
Arthritis Foundation (US non-profit)
Best for: A US overview of hip osteoarthritis causes, symptoms and treatment options, plus Walk With Ease, the Foundation's walking programme for people with arthritis.
Who writes it: By Jennifer Cuthbertson (clinical credentials not stated); updated 15 October 2021.
Caution: Lists creams containing CBD or camphor among self-care options without grading the evidence, and says a doctor will likely order X-rays, whereas NICE says typical osteoarthritis can be diagnosed without imaging. Last updated October 2021.
healthdirect (Australia) – Hip pain
Healthdirect Australia (government-funded health information service)
Best for: Australian overview of hip pain causes, including greater trochanteric pain syndrome and pain from the lower back, with a clear list of when to see a doctor as soon as possible, plus pages on bursitis and hip replacement.
Who writes it: Healthdirect Australia; hip pain page last reviewed July 2024, bursitis page last reviewed July 2025.
Caution: General overview; it doesn't cover impingement or labral tears.
Hip pain · Bursitis - symptoms and treatment · Hip replacement
Choose PT (APTA) – Physical therapy guides for the hip
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Best for: Explains what a physical therapist does for hip osteoarthritis, hip impingement and outer-hip (trochanteric) pain, and links to the US Find a PT directory.
Who writes it: Hip osteoarthritis guide by Andrea Avruskin, PT, DPT; expert reviewers Marcie Harris-Hayes, PT, DPT, MSCI and Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT (board-certified geriatric PT specialist); expert review Sep 2022, revised Jan 2023. Impingement guide by Jennifer Miller, PT, MPT (board-certified sports PT specialist).
Caution: Written by the physical therapy profession, so it naturally favours PT. The impingement and trochanteric guides were last expert-reviewed in 2020 and 2019, and some guides use 'heals' language.
Physical Therapy Guide to Hip Osteoarthritis · Physical Therapy Guide to Hip Impingement (Femoroacetabular Impingement) · Physical Therapy Guide to Greater Trochanteric Bursitis
GLA:D – Good Life with osteoArthritis: Denmark (hip and knee programme)
GLA:D International Network (University of Southern Denmark)
Best for: Explains the GLA:D hip and knee programme (2 education sessions and 12 supervised group exercise sessions over 6 weeks) and links to each country's programme, including a clinic finder for Australia.
Who writes it: Initiative of the Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, University of Southern Denmark (Ewa M. Roos, Søren T. Skou); delivered by trained physiotherapists.
Caution: Only available in some countries (the site lists Denmark, Canada, Australia, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland), not the US, UK or India. Run by the researchers who developed it; its headline results come from its own registry, without a comparison group.
Hip and Knee Program - GLA:D International · International Programs - GLA:D International · GLA:D Australia – Locations
ESCAPE-pain (UK) – Knee and hip programme
ESCAPE-pain (UK group rehabilitation programme)
Best for: A UK group programme for chronic knee or hip pain: 12 classes over 6 weeks, each a short group discussion on managing joint pain followed by a supervised exercise circuit, with a map of local classes.
Who writes it: Developed by Professor Mike Hurley; classes supervised by a physiotherapist or exercise professional.
Caution: UK only. The site leans on participant stories, and the organisation that runs it isn't clearly named on the pages checked.
MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
US National Library of Medicine
Best for: A US government gateway to vetted hip pages, plus a hip-pain sheet covering home-care basics and when to get emergency help or contact a clinician.
Who writes it: Hip pain page (A.D.A.M. encyclopedia) updated by C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF; reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD and the A.D.A.M. editorial team; review date 4 June 2025. Hub page last updated 25 June 2025.
Caution: The hip-pain sheet is short, generic US guidance; check it fits your situation with your own clinician.
Cleveland Clinic – Hip flexor strain
Cleveland Clinic
Best for: A single page on hip flexor strains: symptoms, grades, home care, outlook, and when to see a provider or go to the emergency room.
Who writes it: Cleveland Clinic medical professionals ('Medically Reviewed', last updated 3 August 2022); cites AAOS and MedlinePlus.
Caution: Doesn't mention physiotherapy, uses 'heal' language, promotes Cleveland Clinic appointments, and was last updated in 2022.
YouTube channels run by physiotherapists and doctors that cover hip pain, with their stated credentials and cautions. Each channel is rated from the videos of theirs we have scored; channels with fewer than 2 scored videos are marked not yet rated.
E3 Rehab1.01M subscribers
81Channel RatingFrom 5 of their videos we've scored, across 4 goals: 118 success reports, 2 failure reports. Best scored: Patellar Tendinopathy / Tendinitis / Tendinosis | Jumper’s Knee Rehab (Education, Myths, Exercises) (88).
Best for: Long education-plus-exercise videos on gluteal tendinopathy, FAI and hip flexor pain, and a run of hip replacement videos from a physical therapist on the team who has a hip replacement.
Claim: Doctors of Physical Therapy (team)
Caution: Sells paid rehab programmes on its website. The exercise demos are general, not individual advice.
Gluteal Tendinopathy / Greater Trochanteric Hip Bursitis (Education | Myths | Exercises) · Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) | Hip & Groin Pain (Rehab | Education | Exercises) · Best Strength and Mobility Exercises 3 Months After Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Tone and Tighten3.33M subscribers
81Channel RatingFrom 31 of their videos we've scored, across 23 goals: 984 success reports, 26 failure reports. Best scored: FIX Inner Elbow Pain! Golfer's Elbow - Medial Epicondylitis (86).
Best for: Popular follow-along stretching and strengthening routines for outer-hip pain, hip flexor pain and general hip pain.
Claim: Doctor of physical therapy (Jared)
Caution: Many titles use 'Fix' or certainty claims (e.g. 'IT WORKS! How To Treat Hip Pain At Home', 'Fix Your Hip Pain!'), and some videos claim to realign uneven hips or the SI joint at home. Commercial channel with indemnity disclaimers.
Hip Pain RELIEF! Stretches And Exercises For Lateral Hip Pain · Best Exercises For Hip Flexor Pain - From a Physical Therapist · IT WORKS! How To Treat Hip Pain At Home - Physical Therapy
Rehab Science1.19M subscribers
80Channel RatingFrom 9 of their videos we've scored, across 9 goals: 237 success reports, 10 failure reports. Best scored: 3 Exercises to Alleviate Arm Nerve Pain (85).
Best for: Short, clearly staged exercise videos for each hip problem: arthritis, impingement, labral tears, gluteal tendinopathy and hip flexor pain.
Claim: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) – Tom Walters
Caution: Promotes the author's book, whose subtitle uses 'Heal from Injury' language; a few titles use 'Fix' (e.g. 'How to Fix External Snapping Hip Syndrome').
Lateral Hip Pain Relief Exercises (Gluteal Tendinopathy) · 4 Exercises For Hip Impingement (FAI) · 6 Hip Arthritis Exercises
Squat University6.9M subscribers
80Channel RatingFrom 8 of their videos we've scored, across 5 goals: 193 success reports, 6 failure reports. Best scored: How to Fix Hip Impingement (No More HIP PAIN!) (87).
Best for: Aimed at active people and lifters: hip impingement pain and painful or tight hip flexors, with a focus on squatting and training.
Claim: Physical therapist (DPT) and strength coach – Dr Aaron Horschig
Caution: Many titles make promises (e.g. 'How To Fix Hip Pain (IMPINGEMENT)', 'How To Fix Hip Pain Permanently!'). Promotes the author's books, and the gym focus suits younger, active viewers more than people with arthritis.
How To Fix Hip Pain (IMPINGEMENT) · DO THIS for Hip Impingement Pain · Best Exercises For Tight/Painful Hip Flexors
Bob & Brad5.48M subscribers
80Channel RatingFrom 22 of their videos we've scored, across 20 goals: 634 success reports, 16 failure reports. Best scored: Immediate Relief & Self Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint (86).
Best for: Long-running physical therapy channel with hip videos on telling hip pain from back pain, walking with a cane or walker, and home exercises after hip replacement.
Claim: Physical therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck (with a newer co-presenter, Mike)
Caution: Many hip titles are claim-heavy (e.g. 'Extreme Hip Pain Gone INSTANTLY!', '3 Miracle Exercises For Hip Pain', '5 Hip Exercises to STOP Hip Pain & Replacements'), and the channel earns from Amazon affiliate links. The hip replacement video is about 10 years old.
Is Your Hip Pain Coming From Your Back or Hip? How to Tell. · How to Walk With Hip Pain Using A Cane or Walker · Best Home Exercises after Total Hip Replacement: Critical Exercises
Will Harlow – Over-Fifties Specialist Physio1.86M subscribers
79Channel RatingFrom 4 of their videos we've scored, across 4 goals: 60 success reports, 0 failure reports. Best scored: 5 Best Exercises to FIX Hip Bursitis (Pain on Outside of Hip) (83).
Best for: Explainers and routines aimed at people over 50, including telling outer-hip pain apart from arthritis, hip bursitis and labral tear symptoms.
Claim: Physiotherapist and clinic owner (UK)
Caution: Sells a paid 'Lifelong Mobility' programme. Several titles use promise or alarm framing (e.g. '5 Best Exercises to FIX Hip Bursitis', 'Fix This Silent Hip Problem Before It Destroys Your Knees').
Pain on the Side of Your Hip? It's Probably NOT Arthritis! | HT Physio Quick Tips · What is Hip Bursitis? (& How to Relieve It) · The 5 "Tell-Tale" Symptoms of a Hip Labrum Tear
AskDoctorJo2.47M subscribers
79Channel RatingFrom 33 of their videos we've scored, across 28 goals: 794 success reports, 22 failure reports. Best scored: 5 Best Pregnancy Lower Back Pain Relief Exercises - Ask Doctor Jo (87).
Best for: Simple, follow-along stretches and exercises for hip osteoarthritis, trochanteric bursitis and labral tears, including seated and lying-down versions.
Claim: Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy
Caution: Several hip videos are 9–10 years old, some titles promise 'INSTANT Pain Relief', and the channel's disclaimer refers to products included in videos.
5 Hip Osteoarthritis Pain Relief Exercises, Seated · Greater Trochanteric Bursitis, aka Hip Bursitis - Ask Doctor Jo · Hip Labral Tear Stretches & Exercises - Ask Doctor Jo
El Paso Manual Physical Therapy1.11M subscribers
79Channel RatingFrom 8 of their videos we've scored, across 7 goals: 273 success reports, 2 failure reports. Best scored: Top 6 Exercises For Naturally Healing A Painful Torn Hip Labrum (82).
Best for: Hip osteoarthritis and trochanteric bursitis exercise videos, including how to tell hip arthritis pain apart from bursitis.
Claim: Physical therapy clinic channel; individual presenters' credentials aren't stated in the channel or video descriptions checked.
Caution: Strong claim-heavy framing: titles such as 'Heal hip arthritis NATURALLY', 'This SINGLE Exercise Can Fix 80% of Your Hip Pain' and a series on avoiding hip replacement; one video description says hip bursitis 'can be fixed quite easily'. The channel positions itself against surgery, injections and medication, and sells online courses.
Top 3 Exercises For Trochanteric Hip Bursitis · 3 Major Differences Between Hip Pain From Arthritis And Bursitis · 3 Exercises To Help Calm Down Severe Hip Osteoarthritis Pain
Talking With Docs1.3M subscribers
79Channel RatingFrom 18 of their videos we've scored, across 13 goals: 347 success reports, 24 failure reports. Best scored: Best Exercises to Strengthen Your Bones (Backed by Science) (88).
Best for: Two orthopaedic surgeons explain non-surgical options for hip arthritis, hip bursitis, and what to expect before and after hip replacement.
Claim: Orthopaedic surgeons Dr Paul Zalzal and Dr Brad Weening, members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Caution: Mostly about joint replacement, so it says less about younger people with impingement or tendon pain. The channel also covers unrelated topics such as gut health.
Treating Hip Arthritis Without Surgery · Hip Bursitis and Pain · Don't Make These Mistakes After Hip Replacement
Alyssa Kuhn, Arthritis Adventure905K subscribers
78Channel RatingFrom 5 of their videos we've scored, across 4 goals: 46 success reports, 0 failure reports. Best scored: 5 Hip Exercises to Strengthen Bones & Improve Balance (Osteoporosis-Friendly) (85).
Best for: Gentle mobility and strength content for older adults with hip arthritis, plus front-of-hip pain, hip bursitis and rehab after hip replacement.
Claim: Doctor of physical therapy and osteoarthritis specialist
Caution: Some titles promise more than an exercise can (e.g. 'Eliminate Hip Pain When Getting In Your Car'). Sells a paid membership programme (Adventurers for Life).
3 simple hip mobility exercises for hip arthritis · 5 BEST strengthening exercises for arthritic hips · Hip bursitis? Start with this exercise first!
Sports Injury Physio246K subscribers
72Channel RatingFrom 2 of their videos we've scored, across 2 goals: 19 success reports, 1 failure reports. Best scored: How to Treat Hamstring Strains or Tears (75).
Best for: A deep run of gluteal tendinopathy and hip bursitis videos (causes, walking, sitting and sleeping, what to avoid), plus hip osteoarthritis tips for runners.
Claim: Team of experienced sports physiotherapists
Caution: Offers paid online consultations. The channel names no individual presenters, so their registrations couldn't be verified.
Lateral Hip or Trochanteric Bursitis - Causes and Treatment · Is Walking Good For Gluteal Tendinopathy? · Hip Osteoarthritis - Tips for Runners
Physiotutors1.03M subscribers
Not yet rated: none of their videos has been through our scoring yet.
Best for: Evidence summaries and guideline reviews on hip osteoarthritis and physiotherapist-led care for hip-related pain, from a physiotherapy education platform.
Claim: Physiotherapists (education platform for physiotherapy students and professionals)
Caution: Made for physiotherapy students and clinicians, so it is more technical. Promotes its own education platform. Many of its hip videos are clinical tests, which aren't meant for self-diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis · Physiotherapist-led Treatment for Hip-Related Pain | SYNOPSIS · How to treat Hip & Knee Osteoarthritis | Physiotherapy Guideline Review
Official directories for finding a physiotherapist or sports doctor, by country. We don't list or rate individual clinics.
American Physical Therapy Association's directory of member physical therapists, searchable by location.
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine directory of non-surgical sports medicine physicians.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons member search, for when a surgical opinion is needed (e.g. a locked knee or a possibly repairable tear).
NHS community MSK services (self-referral)England
Explains how to get NHS physiotherapy for joint problems, often without a GP referral in many areas.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy public page for finding a chartered physiotherapist. The page blocked automated access; the URL was confirmed via search index only.
The regulator's register. 'Physiotherapist' is a protected title in the UK, so you can check that anyone using it is registered.
Ontario Physiotherapy Association – Find a PhysiotherapistOntario
Provincial association directory. Canada has no single national directory that we could verify; physiotherapy is regulated province by province.
College of Physiotherapists of Ontario – Public RegisterOntario
Regulator's register, for checking that a physiotherapist is licensed in Ontario.
OPPQ – Find a physiotherapy professionalQuébec
Québec's professional order for physiotherapy; English and French.
Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators
National body of the provincial physiotherapy regulators; a starting point for finding the register in other provinces.
Australian Physiotherapy Association – Find a physio
APA member directory, filterable by location and area of practice (e.g. sports, musculoskeletal).
Ahpra – Registers of Practitioners
National register, for checking that a physiotherapist or doctor is registered.
Sports Medicine Australia – Sports Healthcare Finder
Directory of SMA member practitioners across sports medicine professions, including sports doctors and physiotherapists.
healthdirect – Find a health service
Government-funded national service finder that can search for physiotherapists near you.
ISCP – Find a Chartered Physiotherapist
Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists directory. The page blocked automated access; the URL was confirmed via search index only.
Ireland's health and social care regulator, which registers physiotherapists.
Physiotherapy New Zealand – Find a Physio
Physiotherapy New Zealand's public 'find a qualified physio' site (physiotherapy.org.nz redirects here).
What the trials and guidelines found, with who was studied and the limits of each (29 studies and guidelines). Much of the evidence is about two decisions: what to try first for hip osteoarthritis, and surgery or physiotherapy for hip impingement (FAI). Guidelines disagree in places, so each is shown separately. This summarises research; it isn't medical advice. Guidance from the NHS, healthdirect and MedlinePlus says hip pain after a fall or injury, being unable to walk or put weight on the leg, or a hot, swollen hip with a fever needs prompt assessment by a clinician.
Understanding hip painEvidence: Cohort or observational study
Hip pain and arthritis on X-ray often don't line up
In two large US cohorts (946 people in the Framingham study and 4,366 in the Osteoarthritis Initiative), only 15.6% and 9.1% of hips in people with frequent hip pain showed osteoarthritis on X-ray, and only 20.7% and 23.8% of hips with X-ray osteoarthritis were frequently painful. England's NICE guideline says osteoarthritis can be diagnosed clinically, without imaging, in people aged 45 or over with activity-related joint pain and either no morning stiffness or stiffness lasting no more than 30 minutes.
Limits: Population: mostly older US community volunteers, with pain self-reported on a diagram. NICE keeps imaging for atypical features (such as recent trauma, rapid worsening or a hot, swollen joint) or a suspected different diagnosis, which a clinician assesses.
Kim 2015, BMJ · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Understanding hip painEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Impingement shapes and labral tears are common in hips that don't hurt
A systematic review of 26 studies (2,114 hips of people without hip symptoms, average age about 25) found a cam-type bone shape in 37% of hips (54.8% in athletes, 23.1% in the general population) and a pincer-type shape in 67%. In the 7 studies that looked, MRI showed labral damage in 68.1% of hips. In a Swiss MRI study, 44% of 63 volunteers aged 20–50 without symptoms had a labral defect, compared with 61% of matched patients with FAI.
Limits: Populations: mostly young adults and athletes; pincer shape was poorly defined across studies and imaging methods varied. A finding on a scan doesn't show that it is causing pain; a clinician reads imaging alongside the history and an examination.
Frank 2015, Arthroscopy · Tresch 2017, J Magn Reson Imaging
Understanding hip painEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
FAI syndrome needs symptoms, examination signs and imaging together (Warwick Agreement)
An international panel of 22 clinicians and researchers plus 1 patient, from 9 countries and 5 specialties, introduced the term 'femoroacetabular impingement syndrome' to put symptoms at the centre: a diagnosis needs appropriate symptoms, positive clinical signs and imaging findings together. It listed conservative care, rehabilitation, and arthroscopic or open surgery as suitable treatments.
Limits: Expert consensus from a one-day meeting in 2016, not a trial, and it doesn't rank the treatments. Endorsed by 25 clinical societies, mostly in sports medicine and physiotherapy.
Griffin 2016, Br J Sports Med
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
Guidelines put education and exercise first for hip osteoarthritis
OARSI's 2019 guideline names arthritis education and structured land-based exercise as the core treatments for hip osteoarthritis (dietary weight management is core for knee osteoarthritis but not listed as core for hip). The 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline strongly recommends exercise. NICE (2022) recommends offering therapeutic exercise tailored to the person and explaining that joint pain may increase when exercise starts.
Limits: Guideline recommendations covering hip and knee together; the measured benefits of exercise for hip osteoarthritis specifically are modest (see the 2026 Cochrane review under Exercise and activity). OARSI is international, ACR is US and NICE covers England; their panels and methods differ.
Bannuru 2019 (OARSI guideline), Osteoarthritis Cartilage · Kolasinski 2020 (ACR/Arthritis Foundation 2019 guideline), Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
Steroid injections into the hip joint: guidelines disagree
The 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline strongly recommends intra-articular steroid (glucocorticoid) injections for hip osteoarthritis, with ultrasound guidance strongly recommended for the hip. OARSI (2019) did not recommend them for hip osteoarthritis. NICE (2022) says to consider them when other medicines are ineffective or unsuitable, or to support exercise, and to explain that they give only short-term relief (2 to 10 weeks). The AAOS (2023) says they could be considered for short-term relief (moderate-strength recommendation).
Limits: Panels weighed similar trial evidence differently; NICE found no evidence of benefit beyond 3 months. These recommendations are about osteoarthritis inside the joint, not outer-hip (gluteal tendon) pain, which is covered separately.
Kolasinski 2020 (ACR/Arthritis Foundation 2019 guideline), Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) · Bannuru 2019 (OARSI guideline), Osteoarthritis Cartilage · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England) · AAOS 2023 (Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip guideline), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
Hyaluronic acid, PRP and stem-cell injections: guidelines advise against them for hip osteoarthritis
The ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline strongly recommends against hyaluronic acid injections in the hip, and strongly recommends against platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections for knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, citing a lack of standardisation in what is injected. NICE (2022) says not to offer hyaluronan injections and notes evidence of potential harm in hip osteoarthritis.
Limits: Guideline judgements based on evidence up to their search dates (ACR 2019, NICE 2022). These injections are still widely offered privately; newer trials could change the picture.
Kolasinski 2020 (ACR/Arthritis Foundation 2019 guideline), Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery in hips that already have osteoarthritis
A systematic review of 22 studies found people with hip osteoarthritis reported improvement after hip arthroscopy, but less than people without osteoarthritis; more severe cartilage damage and older age predicted faster progression to hip replacement. NICE (2022) says not to offer arthroscopic lavage (washout) or debridement to people with osteoarthritis.
Limits: The included studies varied widely in quality and follow-up, and the authors say the benefits may be inflated; they call for high-quality comparative studies. The NICE recommendation covers washout and debridement, not every arthroscopic procedure.
Kemp 2015, Clin Orthop Relat Res · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Randomised trial
Hip replacement vs resistance training for severe osteoarthritis (PROHIP trial)
In 109 Danish adults aged 50 or over (mean age 67.6) with severe hip osteoarthritis and an indication for surgery, total hip replacement improved the Oxford Hip Score (0–48) by 15.9 points at 6 months, versus 4.5 points with resistance training: a difference of 11.4 points, which the authors judged clinically important. By 6 months, 21% of the training group had had a replacement and 9% of the surgery group had not.
Limits: Population: older adults with severe osteoarthritis already eligible for surgery, in Denmark; a single unblinded trial with a 6-month primary result. It doesn't address people with milder osteoarthritis.
Frydendal 2024, N Engl J Med
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
NICE: refer for joint replacement on symptoms and quality of life, not age or BMI
NICE (2022) says to consider referral for joint replacement when symptoms substantially affect quality of life and non-surgical management (for example, therapeutic exercise, weight loss, pain relief) is ineffective or unsuitable. It says to use clinical assessment rather than numerical severity scores, and not to exclude people because of age, sex or gender, smoking, other conditions, or overweight or obesity.
Limits: England-specific guidance, and NICE found limited evidence on when to refer. NICE also says to explain that the risks of surgery can vary with those same factors. Access and waiting times differ by country.
NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Randomised trial
Outer-hip (gluteal tendon) pain: education plus exercise vs injection vs wait-and-see (LEAP trial)
In 204 Australians aged 35–70 (167 women) with gluteal tendinopathy for over 3 months, an 8-week physiotherapist-led education and exercise programme (14 sessions) gave more people an overall improvement at 8 weeks (51 of 66) than one corticosteroid injection (38 of 65) or wait-and-see (20 of 68). At 52 weeks, education plus exercise still had more people improved than injection, but pain levels in those two groups were similar, and both had less pain than wait-and-see.
Limits: Population: adults aged 35–70 with MRI-confirmed gluteal tendinopathy and at least 4/10 pain, in Brisbane and Melbourne; participants knew which treatment they had. Results may not apply to other causes of outer-hip pain.
Mellor 2018, BMJ
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Randomised trial
FAI syndrome: two UK trials found surgery ahead of physiotherapy at 8–12 months (UK FASHIoN and FAIT)
In UK FASHIoN (348 people aged 16 or over at 23 NHS hospitals), hip arthroscopy improved hip-related quality of life (iHOT-33) by 6.8 points more than personalised physiotherapist-led hip therapy at 12 months, just above the 6.1-point minimum important difference; both groups improved. In FAIT (222 people aged 18–60 at 7 NHS sites), arthroscopy scored 10.0 points higher than physiotherapy with activity modification on a daily-activities scale at 8 months, above the trial's 9-point threshold.
Limits: Populations: people referred to surgeons, judged suitable for surgery and without established osteoarthritis. Participants weren't blinded and there was no placebo surgery; results are short-term. In UK FASHIoN, patient-reported adverse events were more common after surgery (72% vs 60%).
Griffin 2018 (UK FASHIoN), Lancet · Palmer 2019 (FAIT), BMJ
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Randomised trial
Surgery didn't improve cartilage health more than physiotherapy (Australian FASHIoN)
In 99 Australians with FAI syndrome (mean age 33), the main outcome, an MRI measure of cartilage health (dGEMRIC), showed no significant difference at 12 months between hip arthroscopy and physiotherapist-led care. Hip-related quality of life (iHOT-33) improved 14 points more with surgery.
Limits: A small trial: primary MRI data were available for only 53 of 99 participants, and there was no placebo surgery. The authors note that the symptom benefit wasn't explained by better cartilage metabolism.
Hunter 2021 (Australian FASHIoN), BMC Musculoskelet Disord
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Pooled FAI trials: surgery's edge at 12 months wasn't shown at 24 months
A meta-analysis of 3 randomised trials (650 participants) found high-certainty evidence that hip arthroscopy gave better hip-specific quality of life than non-operative care at 12 months (mean difference 11 points), but low-quality evidence of similar outcomes at 24 months. The 24-month data came from one US military trial of 80 people, in which 28 of those assigned to physical therapy went on to have surgery.
Limits: Few trials and none with placebo surgery; the 24-month estimate rests on one small, single-surgeon trial with heavy crossover. The review authors call for placebo-controlled trials; a sham-controlled trial led from Norway (HIPARTI, NCT02692807) had not posted results when checked in October 2026.
Ferreira 2021, J Sci Med Sport · Mansell 2018, Am J Sports Med
Surgery, injections or exercise firstEvidence: Randomised trial
Reshaping the bone vs washing out the joint during arthroscopy (FIRST trial)
In 220 adults aged 18–50 with FAI at 10 centres in Canada, Finland and Denmark, arthroscopic osteochondroplasty (trimming the impinging bone) gave no better pain relief at 12 months than arthroscopic lavage (washing out the joint), with labral repair allowed in both groups. By 24 months, fewer people needed re-operation after osteochondroplasty (8 of 105 vs 19 of 104).
Limits: Both groups had surgery, so this doesn't compare surgery with physiotherapy or no surgery. Participants were selected as suitable for surgery, and 88% had a labral tear.
FIRST Investigators (Ayeni) 2021, Am J Sports Med
The early weeksEvidence: Randomised trial
Steroid injection for outer-hip pain: earlier relief that didn't last longer
In a Dutch primary-care trial of 120 people aged 18–80 with greater trochanteric pain syndrome, 55% had recovered 3 months after an injection versus 34% with usual care, but at 12 months recovery was the same (61% vs 60%). In a German study of 229 people whose symptoms hadn't settled with earlier treatment, one injection gave the best results at 1 month, but at 15 months it was less often successful (48%) than a home training programme (80%) or shock wave therapy (74%).
Limits: The Dutch trial was open-label. The German study allocated people in sequence rather than at random, so it is weaker evidence. Neither tells an individual whether an injection suits them; that's a decision to make with a clinician.
Brinks 2011, Ann Fam Med · Rompe 2009, Am J Sports Med
Exercise and activityEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Exercise for hip osteoarthritis: the newest Cochrane review finds smaller benefits than before
The 2026 update (18 trials, 1,368 participants) found that exercise, compared with no treatment, usual care or limited education, probably reduces pain slightly (about 7 points on a 0–100 scale) and improves function slightly (about 9 points), but judged these changes unlikely to be clinically meaningful; adding exercise to another treatment made little or no difference. The 2014 version (10 trials) had concluded that exercise reduces pain and improves function, with effects lasting 3–6 months after treatment ended.
Limits: Population: adults with hip osteoarthritis in mostly small, unblinded trials. This newest summary is less positive than earlier ones, and guidelines written before 2026 relied on the earlier evidence. Several review authors also ran included trials (they didn't assess their own).
Hall 2026 (Cochrane review update), Cochrane Database Syst Rev · Fransen 2014 (previous version), Cochrane Database Syst Rev
Exercise and activityEvidence: Cohort or observational study
Education and exercise programmes in everyday practice (GLA:D registry)
In the Danish GLA:D registry (9,825 people with knee or hip osteoarthritis, 2013–2015), pain intensity improved by 12.4 points at 3 months and 13.7 points at 12 months on a 0–100 scale, and fewer people took painkillers. In a later linked-registry study, 30% of 2,304 people with hip osteoarthritis had a hip replacement within 2 years; those whose hip-related quality of life improved more during the programme were less likely to.
Limits: Registry data with no comparison group, so the improvements can't be credited to the programme alone; symptoms also fluctuate naturally. The first report pooled knee and hip, and the programme's developers co-wrote both studies.
Skou 2017, BMC Musculoskelet Disord · Ackerman 2024, Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)
Exercise and activityEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Physiotherapist-led care for hip-related pain in younger adults
A systematic review of 14 studies in adults with hip-related pain (with or without a diagnosis of FAI syndrome) found that physiotherapist-led treatment might improve pain and function. Pooled effects ranged from moderate (physiotherapy vs no treatment after arthroscopy) to weak effects favouring arthroscopy over physiotherapist-led treatment.
Limits: Population: young and middle-aged adults. The studies had varied risk of bias and none was a full-scale placebo-controlled trial; the authors call for high-quality trials.
Kemp 2020, Br J Sports Med
After surgeryEvidence: Expert consensus or guideline
Rehab after hip replacement: supervised physiotherapy or home exercise
The AAOS hip osteoarthritis guideline (2023) says high-quality evidence supports either formal physical therapy or unsupervised home exercise after total hip replacement (moderate-strength recommendation), noting that the balance of studies slightly favoured formal physical therapy. NICE (2020) recommends that a physiotherapist or occupational therapist offers rehabilitation on the day of surgery if possible (and within 24 hours), with advice on self-directed rehabilitation before people leave hospital.
Limits: A US surgeons' guideline and an England-specific guideline. The AAOS panel downgraded its recommendation because programmes varied widely, and said there is no agreed way yet to identify who does well with home exercise alone.
AAOS 2023 (Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip guideline), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · NICE NG157 (2020), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England)
Long-term hip healthEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
How long hip replacements last
Pooling national joint registry data from Australia and Finland (215,676 hip replacements), about 58% of hip replacements were still in place 25 years later. Published case series gave a higher figure (77.6%), but the authors considered registry data less likely to be biased.
Limits: Population: conventional total hip replacements for osteoarthritis, many done decades ago; today's implants and techniques may perform differently. 'Lasting' here means not needing revision surgery, not being free of symptoms.
Evans 2019, Lancet
Long-term hip healthEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Recreational running wasn't linked to more hip or knee osteoarthritis
A meta-analysis of 17 studies (114,829 people) found hip and/or knee osteoarthritis in 3.5% of recreational runners, 13.3% of competitive runners and 10.2% of non-running controls. Compared with controls, recreational runners' odds were not significantly different (odds ratio 0.86), while competitive runners' odds were higher than recreational runners'.
Limits: Observational studies that pooled hip and knee; they can't show cause and effect, and earlier injuries may confound the link. They don't show whether running suits someone who already has hip pain.
Alentorn-Geli 2017, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther
Long-term hip healthEvidence: Meta-analysis or systematic review
Weight and hip osteoarthritis: most weight-loss evidence comes from knees
A meta-analysis of 14 studies found each 5-unit rise in body mass index (BMI) was linked to an 11% higher risk of hip osteoarthritis (relative risk 1.11). On weight loss, NICE (2022) noted its evidence came from people with knee osteoarthritis and judged it could apply to other joints; OARSI (2019) lists dietary weight management as a core treatment for knee but not hip osteoarthritis; the ACR/Arthritis Foundation (2019) strongly recommends weight loss for people with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis who are overweight or obese.
Limits: The risk figures are observational and can't show that losing weight relieves hip symptoms. Guideline panels differ on how far knee evidence carries over to hips.
Jiang 2011, Joint Bone Spine · NICE NG226 (2022), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (England) · Bannuru 2019 (OARSI guideline), Osteoarthritis Cartilage · Kolasinski 2020 (ACR/Arthritis Foundation 2019 guideline), Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)
Long-term hip healthEvidence: Randomised trial
Persistent pain: a psychological treatment trial in chronic back pain (pain reprocessing therapy)
In 151 US adults with chronic back pain for which no specific physical cause had been found (average 10 years of pain), 4 weeks of pain reprocessing therapy (one telehealth session with a physician and 8 psychological sessions) left 66% (33 of 50) pain-free or nearly pain-free after treatment, compared with 20% after an open-label placebo injection and 10% with usual care. Pain stayed lower than in both comparison groups at 1 year.
Limits: Back pain, not hip pain: no trial has tested this treatment for hip pain. Participants had low-to-moderate pain with no identified physical cause, so the result doesn't apply to pain from arthritis, injury or infection, which needs a clinician's assessment. One US university site; participants knew which treatment they had. The therapy's developer, Alan Gordon (author of The Way Out), co-authored the trial.
Ashar 2022, JAMA Psychiatry
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