Dr. O'Connor explains how women can prevent hip arthritis.
Dr. O'Connor:
The preventions that would be available for a woman with arthritis of the hip would focus on not being fat and trying to maintain a good body weight because if you carry those extra pounds around, it puts more stress on your hip, and it will aggravate your arthritis.
We would focus on exercise because we know that exercise is actually a treatment for arthritis, and if you get your muscles toned, it can help preserve your joint. And we’d focus on over-the-counter medications and sometimes some prescription medications.
About Dr. O'Connor, M.D.:
Dr. Mary O'Connor, M.D., was accepted as a resident in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York in 1985. She joined the orthopedic surgery staff at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida in 1991, and since 2005 has served as department chair. Dr. O'Connor cares for people with hip and knee arthritis, failed joint replacements, and pelvic tumors.