Why rest might be making your hip osteoarthritis worse

Michael Dermansky27 Jun, 2026Health

If you’ve been diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis (OA), you may have been told to “rest it” when pain flares up. While rest can provide temporary relief, prolonged inactivity is often one of the worst things you can do for your hip joints. Research consistently shows that exercise and movement are among the safest and most effective treatments for managing hip osteoarthritis symptoms and maintaining long-term function.