Exercise prescription for painful hip disorders

Abstract

The hip is the joint that serves as a force transmitter for the upper and lower extremities and is vital for daily activities, such as walking. The hip joint has a deep socket and surrounding strong muscles; it relies on a balance of muscle flexibility and strength. For the prescription of exercises for the hip, the imbalance between muscle groups, muscles with signs of weakness, muscles under overload, and muscle shortness should be assessed. Strength progression usually advances as isometric, isotonic, isokinetic, and plyometrics; however, full strength cannot be achieved until flexibility is restored. In this review, we aimed to summarize the exercises that can be used for the treatment of disorders, such as hip osteoarthritis, inflammatory conditions, osteoporosis, piriformis syndrome, great trochanteric pain syndrome, tendinopathies, labral tears, and femoroacetabular impingement, under the light of scientific evidence.