Hip

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint with a remarkable range of motion. The joint is formed by the pelvic bones (the socket) and the end of the femur bone (the ball). Your hip is a network of bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Your hip is designed to support the full weight of your body while allowing movement in all directions.

	An X-ray of an arthritic hip

The most frequent cause of hip pain is arthritis. It is estimated that one in every seven Americans has some form of arthritis.

Hip fractures also are a serious health problem. More than 95 percent of hip fractures among adults ages 65 and older are caused by falls.

Select a topic on the right for more information about common hip conditions.