Physical therapy and rehabilitation programs in the management of hip osteoarthritis.

Nonpharmacological treatment programmes are as important as drug treatment in hip osteoarthritis (OA). Drugs (analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) should not be used as sole treatments in hip OA. Patient education and weight reduction are the primary therapeutic approaches. Different types of exercises are beneficial for patients with hip OA. Occupational therapy plays a central role in the management of hip OA patients with functional limitations. More and better-designed trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of nonpharmacological treatment programmes used in hip OA.