[The hip in musculoskeletal disorders--nonsurgical management]

Basic principles of nonsurgical management of hip diseases encountered in most frequent rheumatic conditions are described. Non-pharamacologic therapy like correction of predisposing factors, weight reduction in the obese patients and correction of valgus and varus knee deformities are emphasised. Individually prescribed rehabilitation and education assissts the patient in reaching his or her maximal potential. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAR) are the drugs of first choice in pharmacological management. They are widely used; in low dosages NSAR are effective analgesics; in higher dosages, they have anti-inflammatory activity.