The Puzzle of Hip Pain and Hip Osteoarthritis (OA)

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases – it’s believed to be responsible for more than 75% of hip replacements in Canada.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or hip impingement, is a condition caused by a bone deformity in the hip joint and a common source of hip pain in many young and middle-aged adults. Researchers at Arthritis Research Canada have been studying the causes of hip pain, particularly FAI, to better understand why it occurs, and to determine whether physical activities may interact with the condition to further damage the hip joint, thus leading to osteoarthritis of the hips.

By determining the causes of hip pain, our research can potentially change the way hip pain is treated by healthcare professionals, reduce costly hip replacement surgeries, and improve the quality of life for Canadians at risk of this chronic disease.