Hip pain is commonly attributed to osteoarthritis but other causes include trochanteric bursitis and referred pain of spinal origin. There is only a weak relationship between hip pain and radiographic changes of osteoarthritis, radiographic changes being found in about a third to a half of adults with hip pain. A study based on two general practices in Cheshire has shown associations between lifetime activities during work and leisure and recent hip pain.

A total of 3847 subjects aged 18–85 years were randomly selected from the …