Short answerYes. Exercise gives a modest reduction in pain and a modest gain in function, and the pain relief lasted for months after the supervised program ended.
Evidence grade
Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence
Good evidence it helps
What it is
Exercise for hip arthritis means land based programs of muscle strengthening, functional training and aerobic fitness. They are usually run by physiotherapists, one to one or in groups. One trial used tai chi.
What the research shows
pooled 10 trials with 549 people who had mostly mild to moderate hip arthritis. High quality evidence showed that exercise reduced pain and improved physical function right after treatment. People who did not exercise rated their pain at 29 points out of 100, and those who exercised rated it at 21, so about 8 points less. Function was about 7 points better. About 6 people needed to exercise for 1 to get a clear benefit. The pain relief was still there three to six months after supervised exercise stopped.
Quality of life did not clearly improve, though only three small trials measured it.
Risks and effort
Few side effects were reported. The ones that were reported were all increased pain from the program, and no injuries were reported. A program takes regular effort over weeks.
Every major guideline makes exercise the first treatment for hip arthritis. strongly recommends it for everyone, whatever their age, X-ray or pain level. calls it a core treatment, and says to offer tailored exercise to everyone and to expect some extra ache at first.
The trials used strengthening, functional and aerobic programs. The review could not pick one type as better.
Will exercise damage my hip?
No injuries were reported in the trials. Some people had more pain at first, and a physiotherapist can adjust the program.
Do I need a physiotherapist?
Most trials had supervision. Getting started with a physiotherapist and then continuing at home is a common plan.
Is 8 points a lot?
It is modest. Exercise also brings other health benefits, such as for the heart and general fitness.
Are there exercises I should avoid with hip arthritis?
The trials did not test which exercises to avoid. They used strengthening, functional and aerobic programs, and no injuries were reported. Some people had more pain at first. If an exercise flares the hip for more than a day, a physiotherapist can change the program rather than you stopping altogether.
What makes hip arthritis worse?
No trial on this page tests this. The guidelines advise keeping active, losing weight where it applies, and expecting some extra ache when starting exercise. Stopping exercise is more likely to make things worse than the exercise itself.
Sources
Select a source to read what the study or guideline found, in plain words, with a link to the original.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Next review due October 2028.
