It has been widely reported in the media recently that dancer and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell has had her hip resurfaced and will eventually need a full hip replacement. On the outside Darcey seems fit and healthy but a long and successful dancing career has taken its toll on her body.

Darcey was recently interviewed by Woman and Home Magazine and revealed a list of injuries. Over the years Darcey has had two operations on her ankle, torn her hamstring, snapped the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and had an operation to resurface her hip. Ouch! Certainly not the glamorous life of The Royal Ballet’s principal dancer that we would imagine!

A hip resurface was carried out as Darcey was deemed too young for a hip replacement. At 50 years old, fellow dancer and judge Craig Revel-Horwood has had his hip replaced. This is a young age as many retired dancers wait until they are in their 60’s. Resurfacing of the hip is less invasive as it means that less of the bone is cut away than if it was replaced. The ball and socket joint are relined with metal implants. Hip resurfacing is also easier to repeat later but the down side is that it can need repeating after 5 years and often a full hip replacement is required.

The news of a potential hip replacement didn’t come as a surprise to Darcey as dancing puts a huge amount of pressure on the hips. She was told 20 years ago that her hips were only 50% as strong as they should be for someone of her age. She has visited numerous Physiotherapists and Pilates teachers since her retirement and all have had similar advice for her ‘Keep moving’. This is advice that is often echoed by the Physiotherapy team at Davenport House Clinic.

Darcey’s hip problems are more than likely due to the huge demands placed on her entire body during her career. However, hip problems can affect anyone – one of the most common causes being arthritis. So how can we help you? Well, it depends entirely on the type and cause of your hip pain. It is essential that a Physiotherapist carries out an Initial Assessment to ensure a correct diagnosis before treatment begins. Treatment could include stretching and hot or cold treatment packs. Here at Davenport House Clinic we treat each patient as an individual therefore treatment that has worked for someone else might not be the most beneficial option for you. Our team will work with you to gain back your strength, ease your pain and maximise your mobility.