Osteoarthritis of the Hip

To the Editor: Among Lane's recommendations for the case described in the Clinical Practice article on osteoarthritis of the hip (Oct. 4 issue) 1 is a referral to a physical therapist. Although evidenced-based recommendations for exercise in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip currently exist, 2 physical therapy has been shown to provide additional potential benefits in such patients. In a trial reported by Hoeksma et al., 3 subjects receiving treatment with hip-joint manipulations and stretches had greater reduction in pain and improvement in function, in both short- and long-term follow-up, than did those receiving treatment with exercise alone. Considering the risks associated . . .