Hip pain from osteoarthritis can make everyday activities frustrating. You may experience pain with walking, stairs, getting in or out of a chair, exercise, or even sleeping. The pain can also vary from mild to very severe.
Often when people experience hip pain, they see their orthopedist and get medication, a cortisone injection or the doctor suggests surgery, but newer research suggests that Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), including both focal shockwave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy, may be beneficial at reducing pain and improving function for individuals with hip osteoarthritis.
At Release Physical Therapy Washington DC, we combine physical therapy, strength training, and advanced technologies like focal shockwave therapy to help our patients achieve their goals with minimally invasive treatments.
What Is Hip Osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition characterized by progressive cartilage breakdown, changes to the underlying bone, inflammation, and reduced joint mobility.
Common symptoms include:
- Groin pain
- Deep hip achiness
- Stiffness with prolonged sitting
- Difficulty walking
- Pain with stairs
- Reduced hip mobility
- Weakness
Hip OA is very debilitating and often causes a combination of these symptoms, ranging in severity.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic waves to stimulate biological healing responses within tissues.
There are two primary types:
Focal Shockwave Therapy
Focal shockwave delivers high-energy acoustic waves to a precise target deep within the body.
Benefits include:
- Greater tissue penetration
- More precise treatment
- Higher energy delivery
- Ability to target deep hip structures
Radial Pressure Wave Therapy
Radial shockwave (often called radial pressure wave therapy) delivers pressure waves that spread outward from the treatment applicator.
Benefits include:
- Larger treatment area
- Useful for surrounding muscles and connective tissues
- Often combined with focal shockwave treatments
Many clinics use only radial devices, but here at Release Physical Therapy, we offer both treatments, which can be very beneficial for hip pain.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Help Hip Osteoarthritis?
Researchers believe shockwave therapy may help hip OA through several mechanisms.
1. Pain Reduction
Shockwave therapy appears to influence pain signaling pathways and may reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors.
Studies have demonstrated reductions in pain scores following ESWT treatment for osteoarthritis.
2. Improved Blood Flow
ESWT stimulates angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, which have been proven to improve local circulation and tissue health.
3. Cellular Healing Response
Shockwave therapy stimulates growth factors involved in tissue repair and regeneration.
Research suggests ESWT may promote:
- Increased cellular activity
- Enhanced tissue metabolism
- Improved healing responses
4. Reduced Inflammation
Shockwave therapy may modulate inflammatory processes associated with osteoarthritis progression and chronic pain.
5. Improved Function
Perhaps most importantly, patients frequently report improvements in ability to participate in daily activities and recreational activities including walking, running, strength training and overall improved quality of life.
Focal shockwave may be the best:
Because the hip joint sits deep beneath layers of muscle and soft tissue, focal shockwave therapy may provide advantages over radial pressure wave therapy by reaching deeper structures with greater precision.
This allows clinicians to target:
- Hip joint capsule
- Deep gluteal tissues
- Tendon attachments
- Areas of degeneration associated with hip OA
ESWT Combined with Exercise Produces Better Results
One of the most consistent findings in rehabilitation research is that passive treatments alone rarely provide optimal outcomes.
Studies suggest the best results occur when shockwave therapy is combined with:
- Progressive strengthening
- Mobility work
- Balance training
- Functional exercise
- Activity modification
This is exactly why shockwave therapy should be done in combination with physical therapy.
At Release Physical Therapy Washington DC, we rarely rely on a single intervention.
For hip osteoarthritis, treatment may include:
- Focal shockwave therapy
- Radial pressure wave therapy
- Manual therapy
- Strength training
- Gait analysis
- Hip mobility work
- Dry needling
The goal is not simply reducing pain, it is improving function, strength, mobility, quality of life.
If you’re struggling with hip arthritis and want to explore non-surgical treatment options, schedule an evaluation with the team at Release Physical Therapy Washington DC to determine whether shockwave therapy may be right for you.
