They say hips don’t lie, and unfortunately, they may be right. Hips might be one of the biggest giveaways of age—once you’ve hit 60, you’ve got a 1 in 4 chance of experiencing hip pain.

Mr Parminder J Singh is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with St Vincent’s Private Hospital East Melbourne. Here are his five top tips to age-proofing your hips and reducing your risk of ending up on the operating table!

Tip 1: Monitor your Bone Density

If you’re female and have reached menopause, Mr Parminder J Singh recommends asking your GP for a bone density check to measure the thickness and quality of your bone. Reduced bone density can put you at increased risk of sustaining a hip fracture.

By 2022, it’s estimated that 6.2 million Australians over 50 will have osteoporosis or osteopenia, a 31% increase since 2012.

At the same time, fracture rates are expected to rise: from 140,882 in 2012 to 183,105 in 2022, if patients don’t take action to improve their diagnosis of and management of osteoporosis.”

Your GP can start you on medication and a management plan to help strengthen your bones.

Tip 3: Organise your home and activities to prevent falls

Mr Parminder J Singh recommends organising your home to reduce your risk of falling. Keep objects off your stairs and floors. Fall-proof your bathroom with slip-resistant bathmats and grab bars in the bathtub. Take care in the garden, particularly in wet seasons, and avoid ladders or standing on unsteady furniture. Get your eyes checked regularly; poor vision frequently causes falls in older people. 

Tip 5: Maintain a healthy weight

The more you weigh, the more pressure your hips experience. If you’re at a healthy body weight, keep up your physical activity levels and nourishing diet. However, if you’re struggling to keep your weight down, your doctor can help you with a diet plan and exercise regime to keep you at a healthy weight.

Hip problems in seniors can become extremely debilitating, and even fatal if not treated correctly. That’s why taking steps to minimise your risk of hip issues can be beneficial to your health—and it’s also not that hard.

Mr Parminder J Singh specialises in hip and knee arthroscopy as well as minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. As an active member of Hip Arthroscopy Australia (HAA), Board Member of the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy and Joint Preservation Surgery, Parminder is part of a group at the forefront of developing and teaching many of the hip arthroscopy techniques used in Australia and around the world today. His private consulting suite is located at 21 Erin Street, Richmond.