What causes arthritis in the hip?
As a weight-bearing joint, our hips absorb shock over the course of our lifetime and can begin to show wear and tear on the surface of bone and in the cartilage that sits between bones. This damage can be accelerated with even mild congenital structural abnormalities of the hip that you may not even know about. Some medical conditions — inflammation or rheumatoid arthritis — also can cause degeneration. Direct injury to the hip from contact sports or accidents can destabilize the joint and cause uneven wear, eventually leading to arthritis later in life.
