Rehabilitation
5 min read

Hip osteoarthritis: does it always end in a replacement?

"The X-ray says my hip is calcified and worn - am I going to need a replacement sooner or later?" It is one of the most common questions in the clinic, and the answer is no, not from the moment wear is found. What decides the path is how much pain you are in and how much of your life it is taking, not how bad the film looks.

Clinically reviewed by

Dr. Mica Leung · 梁明治 脊醫

Registered Chiropractor (Hong Kong) · Registration no. 436 · Reviewed 13 August 2026

What the report usually means by "calcification"

In most reports this describes an osteophyte - extra bone the body lays down at the rim of a joint that has been loaded unevenly for a long time. It is not caused by eating calcium, so cutting calcium out does nothing for it and raises the risk of osteoporosis instead. The finding tells you the joint has been working hard; it does not on its own tell you how much pain you should be in, or what should happen next.

Conservative care is where nearly everyone starts

The core of it is exercise: hip and gluteal strength, range of movement, and weight management where that applies. Hip osteoarthritis tends to run in a loop - cartilage thins, load concentrates, the capsule tightens and internal rotation is lost, gait changes, the gluteal muscles weaken, load distributes even worse. Exercise is what interrupts that loop. Manual therapy added on top gives useful short-term relief, but the evidence is clear that over the longer term it does not beat exercise on its own. That is worth saying plainly: hands-on treatment can make you more comfortable and more mobile, and the thing that changes the trajectory is the exercise you keep doing.

When surgery becomes the conversation

When pain is affecting sleep, walking and work, and a genuine, sustained trial of exercise-based care has not shifted it, that is the point to discuss surgery with an orthopaedic surgeon. The choice between resurfacing and total hip replacement is theirs to make with you and depends on factors such as age, femoral head size and the shape of the socket. Three things worth keeping in mind: conservative care improves pain and function, it does not dissolve osteophytes or regrow cartilage, so treat anyone promising to "reverse" degeneration with caution; a sudden inability to walk, severe night pain, fever, or a history of long-term steroid use needs same-day medical assessment rather than a course of treatment; and true hip joint pain is usually felt in the groin - pain on the outside of the hip is more often gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis, and hip pain can also come from a labral tear, femoroacetabular impingement, inflammatory arthritis, or be referred from the lumbar spine.

The short version

  •  Wear on an X-ray does not by itself mean a replacement is coming.
  • Exercise is the part that changes the trajectory; hands-on treatment helps you tolerate it.
  • Groin pain is usually the hip itself; pain on the outside usually is not.

This article is general information about musculoskeletal problems. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment. If your symptoms are severe, sudden, or accompanied by fever, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control, seek urgent medical attention.

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The Causeway Bay clinic is by appointment only.

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Dr. Mica Leung, Registered Chiropractor, at the Causeway Bay clinic

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drmicaleung@hkccf.org.hk

Dr. Yip Siu Ho, Registered Chiropractor, at the Causeway Bay clinic

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Dr. Lui Kwan Long, Registered Chiropractor, at the Causeway Bay clinic

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Anatomical model of the pelvis and lumbar spine
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The chiropractic college campus where HKCCF scholarship recipients study HKCCF scholarship aim: nurture more chiropractor talents to serve the local public
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Hong Kong Chiropractic College Foundation 香港脊骨神經科醫學院基金

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A chiropractor measuring a participant shoulder range of motion at an HKCCF community health day Participants following a seated neck stretch at an HKCCF community health event A full lecture theatre at an HKCCF public health talk

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香港社區組織協會Society for Community Organization
香港小童群益會Boys and Girls Clubs Association
基督教香港信義會ELCHK Chung On Elderly Centre
香港聖公會福利協會HKSKH Welfare Council
中華基督教會香港區會Church of Christ in China, HK
尖沙咀街坊福利會TST Kaifong Welfare Association
播道書院Evangel College
庇理羅士女子中學Belilios Public School
新鴻基中心Sun Hung Kai Centre
永義（香港）有限公司Wing Yee (Hong Kong) Ltd
聖雅各福群會St. James' Settlement
香港浸信教會Hong Kong Baptist Church
香港社區組織協會Society for Community Organization
香港小童群益會Boys and Girls Clubs Association
基督教香港信義會ELCHK Chung On Elderly Centre
香港聖公會福利協會HKSKH Welfare Council
中華基督教會香港區會Church of Christ in China, HK
尖沙咀街坊福利會TST Kaifong Welfare Association
播道書院Evangel College
庇理羅士女子中學Belilios Public School
新鴻基中心Sun Hung Kai Centre
永義（香港）有限公司Wing Yee (Hong Kong) Ltd
聖雅各福群會St. James' Settlement
香港浸信教會Hong Kong Baptist Church
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drmicaleung@hkccf.org.hk

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{{ t.fees.newLabel }} HK$900 · {{ t.fees.followLabel }} HK$780
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Spinal X-ray films being reviewed
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銅鑼灣脊醫診所 · Causeway Bay Chiropractic Clinic

香港銅鑼灣註冊脊醫診所，由香港脊骨神經科醫學院基金有限公司營運，香港註冊慈善團體，稅務局檔案編號 91/11492。

A registered chiropractic clinic in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, operated by the Hong Kong Chiropractic College Foundation Ltd., a registered Hong Kong charity. Consultation fees fund chiropractic scholarships.

脊醫是甚麼 What a chiropractor does

脊醫（脊骨神經科醫生）在香港屬註冊醫療專業，須向香港脊醫管理局註冊。本診所的脊醫處理肌肉骨骼問題， 以評估為先，找出痛症的機械性成因，再按情況配合手法治療、運動復康及儀器治療。脊科治療並非適用於所有情況， 若你的問題並非源自肌肉骨骼系統，我們會直接說明並建議你先諮詢醫生。
Chiropractors in Hong Kong are a registered health profession and must be registered with the Chiropractors Council of Hong Kong. The chiropractors here assess musculoskeletal problems, work out the mechanical cause of the pain, and combine hands-on treatment, rehabilitation exercise and equipment-based treatment according to what the assessment shows. Chiropractic care does not suit every problem; where the cause is not musculoskeletal we will say so and suggest you see a doctor first.

地址 Address

香港銅鑼灣渣甸街 5-19 號京華中心 1403-04 室
Room 1403-04, Capitol Centre, 5-19 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
港鐵銅鑼灣站 F1 出口，步行約 3 分鐘 · MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit F1, about 3 minutes on foot

應診時間 Opening hours

週一至週六 Monday to Saturday · 10:00–13:30, 15:00–19:00
週日及公眾假期休息 · Closed Sunday and public holidays. 敬請預約 By appointment only.

聯絡 Contact

電話 Tel 2116 5931 · WhatsApp 2116 5932
電郵 Email info@hkccf.org.hk
應診以廣東話、普通話及英語進行 · Consultations in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

治療範圍 Conditions we see

下背痛（腰痛）、頸痛及頸部僵硬、坐骨神經痛、頸源性頭痛、肩頸痛及上肢痛、膝痛、髖部及骨盆痛、 運動創傷、肌腱問題、脊椎側彎、姿勢問題，以及關節及肌肉勞損。長時間使用電腦或手機引致的頸背不適亦常見。
Lower back pain, neck pain and stiffness, sciatica, cervicogenic headache, shoulder and upper limb pain, knee pain, hip and pelvic pain, sports injuries, tendon problems, scoliosis, posture problems, and joint and muscle strain. Neck and upper back discomfort related to long hours at a computer or phone is common.

脊椎側彎 Scoliosis

診所提供脊椎側彎（脊柱側彎）評估，包括姿勢及活動檢查。治療選項包括德國 Schroth 特定脊柱側彎運動， 以及青少年脊柱側彎矯正支架（ART 支架及舍努 Chêneau 支架）。是否適合支架治療視乎年齡、生長階段及側彎角度， 需先經檢查及診斷；部分情況需要轉介骨科跟進。
The clinic assesses scoliosis, including posture and movement examination. Options include Schroth scoliosis-specific exercise and adolescent scoliosis bracing (ART brace and Chêneau brace). Whether bracing is appropriate depends on age, stage of growth and the curve, and requires assessment first; some cases need referral to an orthopaedic specialist.

治療方式 Treatments

脊科手法治療、復康運動及力量訓練、乾針治療（可配合超聲波導引）、衝擊波治療、 運動創傷復康、全身聲波震動，以及處方訂製矯形鞋墊。並非每位求診者都需要每一項治療。
Chiropractic manual therapy, rehabilitation and strength training, dry needling (with ultrasound guidance where indicated), shockwave therapy, sports injury rehabilitation, whole body vibration, and prescription custom foot orthoses. Not every patient needs every treatment.

應診流程 What a first visit involves

首次應診約需 45 分鐘：先了解病史及日常負荷，再作姿勢、活動幅度及神經檢查，然後解釋評估結果， 並在合適時開始治療。你會獲得一套在應診之間進行的運動計劃。應診須預約。
A first appointment takes about 45 minutes. We take a history, examine posture, movement and neurological signs, explain what we find, and begin treatment where it is appropriate. You leave with an exercise plan to do between visits, because the exercise matters as much as the treatment. Care is by appointment only.

何時應先求醫 When to see a doctor first

如出現以下情況，請先諮詢醫生而非直接接受脊科治療：嚴重創傷後（如跌倒或碰撞）出現痛楚； 發燒、不明原因體重下降或有癌症病史；下肢無力或麻木持續惡化；大小便失禁或會陰麻木（應立即就醫）。
See a doctor first, rather than starting chiropractic care, if you have pain after a significant injury such as a fall or collision; fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer; weakness or numbness in the legs that is getting worse; or loss of bladder or bowel control or numbness around the groin, which needs immediate medical attention.

選擇脊醫 Choosing a chiropractor

在香港，只有名列香港脊醫管理局名冊的人才可從事脊骨療法專業或使用「註冊脊醫」的稱謂（《脊醫註冊條例》第 428 章）。名冊記錄姓名及註冊所依據的資歷，任何人均可免費查閱。選擇脊醫時，除註冊資格外，亦可留意首次應診是否包括病歷詢問及身體檢查、有否以日常語言解釋檢查結果、計劃是否設有覆核點，以及收費是否可預先報價。在香港應該如何選擇脊醫？
In Hong Kong only a person entered in the register kept by the Chiropractors Council may practise chiropractic or use the description “registered chiropractor” (Chiropractors Registration Ordinance, Cap. 428). The register lists each name and the qualification the registration is based on, and is open to inspection by anyone free of charge. Beyond registration, it is worth looking at whether the first visit includes a history and physical examination, whether the findings are explained in plain language, whether the plan has a review point, and whether fees can be quoted in advance. How do you choose a chiropractor in Hong Kong?

收費 Fees

新症 HK$900，覆診 HK$780。復康運動班、脊柱側彎支架、矯形鞋墊及骨質密度測試另有收費， 完整價目表載於收費頁，2026 年 9 月 1 日起生效。你可於應診前要求書面費用預算。
A first consultation is HK$900 and a follow-up visit HK$780. Rehabilitation classes, scoliosis bracing, custom orthoses and bone density assessment are priced separately; the full price list is on the fees page, effective 1 September 2026. You may ask for an advance written quotation of treatment fees.

本診所脊醫 Chiropractors

梁明治脊醫 Dr. Mica Leung — 香港註冊脊醫，註冊編號 436 · registered chiropractor in Hong Kong, Chiropractors Council registration no. 436.
葉兆豪脊醫 Dr. Yip Siu Ho — 香港註冊脊醫，註冊編號 441 · registered chiropractor in Hong Kong, Chiropractors Council registration no. 441.
呂焜烺脊醫 Dr. Lui Kwan Long — 香港註冊脊醫 · registered chiropractor in Hong Kong.

網頁 Pages

繁體中文為預設版本。简体中文版本請前往 /cn/，English version at /en/.

基金 The foundation

本診所由香港脊骨神經科醫學院基金有限公司營運， 為香港註冊慈善團體（稅務局檔案編號 91/11492）。診金扣除營運成本後全數撥入脊醫獎學金， 資助香港學生赴海外修讀脊骨神經醫學並回港執業，該獎學金已運作超過十年。
The clinic is run by the Hong Kong Chiropractic College Foundation Ltd., a registered Hong Kong charity. What is left after running costs goes to a chiropractic scholarship that has been running for more than ten years, sending Hong Kong students overseas to qualify and bringing them back to practise here.

基金社交媒體 The foundation on social media

Facebook · Instagram · YouTube