Hip Arthritis Patients May Benefit Less From Exercise Than Previously Believed: Study - Video

Can exercise really help hip arthritis? A new review says yes-but the benefits may be smaller than many people expect.

A new Cochrane review found that exercise can help reduce pain and improve movement in people with hip osteoarthritis, but the average improvement may be too small for many patients to notice in their daily lives.

Hip osteoarthritis is a common condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, and difficulty walking. Doctors often recommend exercise as one of the first treatments to help manage symptoms.

Researchers analyzed 18 clinical trials involving 1,368 people with hip osteoarthritis. The exercise programs lasted 2 to 52 weeks and included strength training, aerobic exercise, and mind-body activities such as yoga or similar exercises.

The results showed that people who exercised had slightly less pain than those who received usual care or no treatment. On a 100-point pain scale, exercise reduced pain by about 7 points. However, experts say most people need a reduction of around 12 points before they notice a meaningful improvement in everyday life.

Exercise also led to small improvements in physical function, such as walking and performing daily activities. However, it had little or no effect on overall quality of life.

Researchers stressed that these findings do not mean exercise is ineffective. Exercise remains an important part of treatment because it is generally safe, inexpensive, and provides many other health benefits, including improving muscle strength, balance, heart health, and overall fitness.

The authors also noted that many of the studies were small and participants knew whether they were exercising, which may have influenced the results.

They say larger, higher-quality studies are needed to identify which types of exercise work best and which patients are most likely to benefit.

REFERENCE: Michelle Hall, Belinda J Lawford, et al.; Exercise for osteoarthritis of the hip. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2026; 2026 (7) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007912.pub3