Factors Needing Attention When Conducting Physical Therapy for Suppressing Hip Joint Pain in Patients with Early Stage Hip Osteoarthritis

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the improvement factors of hip joint pain in patients with early stage hip osteoarthritis. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 39 patients with early stage hip osteoarthritis whose numerical rating scale of hip joint pain was over 4. The factors of hip joint pain at the 2-month assessment were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. [Results] The minimal joint space (odds ratio: 0.1), the range of motion of hip abduction at the first assessment (odds ratio: 1.5), subjective stiffness score at the 2 month assessment (odds ratio: 3.0), and the frequency of implementation of home exercise at the 2 month assessment (odds ratio: 0.3) were identified as factors of hip joint pain. [Conclusion] This research provides information which will lead to the establishment of a treatment strategy for pain in the early stages of osteoarthritis.