Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsUnderlying Conditions That Cause Frozen HipDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention and Coping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Underlying Conditions That Cause Frozen Hip
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention and Coping
Frozen hip, also calledadhesive capsulitis(AC) of the hip, is a painful condition that causes restriction of motion in the hip joint. The connective tissues surrounding and within the hip joint become inflamed and scar tissue forms inside the capsule, causing extreme pain and stiffness in the buttocks and groin.
Trauma to the hip and prior surgery are two scenarios that have been associated with the disease, but studies also point to infections (Lyme diseaseamong them) or inflammation (like lupus-relatedsynovitis).
This article discusses the causes and symptoms of frozen hip, and stages of disease similar to those used when diagnosing frozen shoulder. It explains how frozen hip is diagnosed and treated.
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Symptoms of Frozen Hip
Stages of Frozen Hip
Stage 1: The synovial inflammation is limited, with some changes in the hip joint cavity. Symptoms over one to three months include pain when moving the hip, aching when at rest, and limited activity due to hip motion changes especially when rotating your leg away from the body (external rotation).
Stage 2: “Christmas tree” synovitis, seen in the freezing stage, describes the shape seen due to thickened synovial tissue that appears on a stalk-like structure. Symptoms across three to nine months include increased pain and limitedrange of motion, with heightened discomfort, especially at night.
Stage 3: This “frozen stage” involves a complete loss of the joint space, with symptoms now having lasted up to 14 months. Your pain is increased and motion decreased, though it may seem more comfortable as you limit motion.
Stage 4: This “thawing” stage, in the 12- to 15-month range, brings a big decrease in pain, especially at night, and improved ability to complete your daily activities has increased dramatically.
How Often Does Frozen Hip Occur?Some studies find frozen hip is more common in people assigned female and generally affects those in middle age. Other studies note that frozen shoulder is more common in people living with diabetes, but those at risk for frozen hip still remain unclear.
How Often Does Frozen Hip Occur?
Some studies find frozen hip is more common in people assigned female and generally affects those in middle age. Other studies note that frozen shoulder is more common in people living with diabetes, but those at risk for frozen hip still remain unclear.
Hip and Knee Health
Chronic conditions associated with hip stiffness include:
The diagnosis of frozen hip is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning all other conditions must be ruled out before deciding on frozen hip. The diagnosis is made mainly on clinical grounds, noting the history of pain, which is generally:
You may be asked to take an X-ray to help rule out any other causes of your hip pain. With frozen hip, the X-ray will be normal. Your healthcare provider may ask you to get amagnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scan, which can be helpful in some cases of frozen hip—particularly those that follow previous surgery. But these scans are often clean as well.
Frozen hip may be confused with other conditions that cause hip stiffness. In addition to taking a detailed clinical history, proper imaging and performing a thorough physical examination are key.
A Word From VerywellAdhesive capsulitis of the hip is relatively rare, and if you develop spontaneous pain and stiffness of the hip, you should seek medical attention to rule out alternative conditions, such as infection, fracture, labral tear, or problems affecting the pelvis or lower back.—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Adhesive capsulitis of the hip is relatively rare, and if you develop spontaneous pain and stiffness of the hip, you should seek medical attention to rule out alternative conditions, such as infection, fracture, labral tear, or problems affecting the pelvis or lower back.—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Adhesive capsulitis of the hip is relatively rare, and if you develop spontaneous pain and stiffness of the hip, you should seek medical attention to rule out alternative conditions, such as infection, fracture, labral tear, or problems affecting the pelvis or lower back.
—ANITA C. CHANDRASEKARAN, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
There is no gold standard treatment for frozen hip. Using theR.I.C.E. methodof rest, ice, compression, and elevation is usually the first line of treatment, especially when you are experiencing hip pain but are unsure why.
There are many potential treatment options for frozen hip, including:
The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) is common in treating frozen hip. Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) are typical drugs, but your healthcare provider may prescribe stronger pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Physical TherapyA physical therapist may start an exercise program focused on increasing your range of motion and mobility.Massage therapyis also used as a pain-relieving technique. If your condition progresses to the chronic stages, therapy will focus on slowing the progression of fibrotic changes and trying more aggressive physical therapy tactics, like pressure dilation and gentle stretching.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist may start an exercise program focused on increasing your range of motion and mobility.Massage therapyis also used as a pain-relieving technique. If your condition progresses to the chronic stages, therapy will focus on slowing the progression of fibrotic changes and trying more aggressive physical therapy tactics, like pressure dilation and gentle stretching.
There aren’t any hard and fast rules you can follow to prevent frozen hips, but healthy eating, exercise, and stretching may help. To help alleviate pain:
Some people even say a warm shower and gentle stretching in the morning have helped them to cope physically and mentally.
What Is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet, and What Foods Should You Eat?
Summary
Frozen hip, also called adhesive capsulitis of the hip, typically occurs in four stages as is the case with a frozen shoulder. They describe the increasing symptoms of pain and stiffness, the point at which the hip joint freezes, and the stage at which symptoms improve. No matter what stage of the disease you are in, know that most cases heal up within 18 months.
If you are diagnosed with frozen hip, resolution of your symptoms is possible. If you are experiencing additional symptoms, such as fever or joint pain, your diagnosis is unlikely to be frozen hip, and you should seek immediate medical attention.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eberlin CT, Kucharik MP, Cherian NJ, Meek WM, McInnis KC, Martin SD.Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: A Case Presentation and Review.Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2022 Oct 12;14(4):37679. doi:10.52965/001c.37679.Miller AR, Arnot D, Wake M.A healthy patient with bilateral frozen hips preceding bilateral frozen shoulders: a cautionary tale.BMJ Case Reports. 2015;2015(nov12 1):bcr2015210523-bcr2015210523. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210523Lee GY, Ha YC, Kim S, Kim JY.Computed Tomography Arthrography Findings of Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: An Analog of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder. Korean J Radiol. 2019 Mar;20(3):479-486. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0566.de Sa D, Phillips M, Catapano M, Simunovic N, Belzile EL, Karlsson J,et al.Adhesive capsulitis of the hip: a review addressing diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2015 Nov 27;3(1):43-55. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv075.University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eberlin CT, Kucharik MP, Cherian NJ, Meek WM, McInnis KC, Martin SD.Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: A Case Presentation and Review.Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2022 Oct 12;14(4):37679. doi:10.52965/001c.37679.Miller AR, Arnot D, Wake M.A healthy patient with bilateral frozen hips preceding bilateral frozen shoulders: a cautionary tale.BMJ Case Reports. 2015;2015(nov12 1):bcr2015210523-bcr2015210523. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210523Lee GY, Ha YC, Kim S, Kim JY.Computed Tomography Arthrography Findings of Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: An Analog of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder. Korean J Radiol. 2019 Mar;20(3):479-486. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0566.de Sa D, Phillips M, Catapano M, Simunovic N, Belzile EL, Karlsson J,et al.Adhesive capsulitis of the hip: a review addressing diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2015 Nov 27;3(1):43-55. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv075.University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Eberlin CT, Kucharik MP, Cherian NJ, Meek WM, McInnis KC, Martin SD.Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: A Case Presentation and Review.Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2022 Oct 12;14(4):37679. doi:10.52965/001c.37679.Miller AR, Arnot D, Wake M.A healthy patient with bilateral frozen hips preceding bilateral frozen shoulders: a cautionary tale.BMJ Case Reports. 2015;2015(nov12 1):bcr2015210523-bcr2015210523. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210523Lee GY, Ha YC, Kim S, Kim JY.Computed Tomography Arthrography Findings of Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: An Analog of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder. Korean J Radiol. 2019 Mar;20(3):479-486. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0566.de Sa D, Phillips M, Catapano M, Simunovic N, Belzile EL, Karlsson J,et al.Adhesive capsulitis of the hip: a review addressing diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2015 Nov 27;3(1):43-55. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv075.University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
Eberlin CT, Kucharik MP, Cherian NJ, Meek WM, McInnis KC, Martin SD.Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: A Case Presentation and Review.Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2022 Oct 12;14(4):37679. doi:10.52965/001c.37679.
Miller AR, Arnot D, Wake M.A healthy patient with bilateral frozen hips preceding bilateral frozen shoulders: a cautionary tale.BMJ Case Reports. 2015;2015(nov12 1):bcr2015210523-bcr2015210523. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210523
Lee GY, Ha YC, Kim S, Kim JY.Computed Tomography Arthrography Findings of Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis of the Hip: An Analog of Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder. Korean J Radiol. 2019 Mar;20(3):479-486. doi:10.3348/kjr.2018.0566.
de Sa D, Phillips M, Catapano M, Simunovic N, Belzile EL, Karlsson J,et al.Adhesive capsulitis of the hip: a review addressing diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.J Hip Preserv Surg. 2015 Nov 27;3(1):43-55. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnv075.
University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
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