Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMuscle StrainContusion (Hip Pointer)Osteitis PubisHip BursitisSnapping Hip SyndromeHip Labral TearJoint ImpingementStress FractureSports HerniaHip ArthritisTraumatic Dislocation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Muscle Strain
Contusion (Hip Pointer)
Osteitis Pubis
Hip Bursitis
Snapping Hip Syndrome
Hip Labral Tear
Joint Impingement
Stress Fracture
Sports Hernia
Hip Arthritis
Traumatic Dislocation
Hip painis a common cause of discomfort in athletes and can be a frustrating problem to treat. In the past, just about any hip pain symptom was attributed to a “muscle strain”-type injury. While this can be a very common cause of hip pain in athletes, there are many other conditions that can sideline a player as well.
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Muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is overstretched or torn. In athletes, this type of injury is common in the hip and groin area due to fatigue, overuse, or the improper use of a muscle. The failure to warm up before exercise also contributes to the problem.
Muscles around the hip joint are especially prone to strain because of the tremendous force they can generate. Groin pulls and hamstring strains are two examples of this.
Lower back strains often occur due to sudden, forceful, and sometimes unexpected movements such as flexion, extension, and rotation.
Muscle strains are generally treated with RICE (rest,ice application, compression, and elevation), while pain can be alleviated with over-the-counternonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
List of Common Sports Injuries
Osteitis pubisis the inflammation of thepubic symphysis, the joint of the two major pelvic bones at the front of the pelvis. Osteitis pubis is thought to be due to the repetitive pull of muscles over the front of the hip joint. The condition is often seen in long-distance runners, soccer players, and hockey players who take long strides over prolonged periods of time.
RICE, NSAIDs, andphysical therapyare usually considered appropriate for the treatment of osteitis pubis.Steroid injectionsmay be suggested to reduce pain and inflammation.Walking aidsmay be necessary.
What Causes Hip Pain?
Bursitisis the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs throughout the body, calledbursae, that help reduce friction between bone, muscles, and tendons.
Trochanteric bursitis is common in football players, soccer players, and hockey players who place prolonged and extreme pressure on the hip joint during sports, frequently changing directions or suddenly stopping.
While hip bursitis can be effectively treated with ice, NSAIDs, steroid injections, and physical therapy, the condition has a tendency of coming back and becoming chronic.
How Bursitis Is Diagnosed
Snapping hip syndromeis a term used to describe audible or palpable snapping sensations that occur with hip movement.Two main categories classify causes of snapping hip syndrome:
When there is no pain present, treatment is not necessary. Painful snapping hip syndrome responds well to conservative treatment:
Easy Stretches for Hip Pain
The labrum of the hip is a cuff of thick tissue that surrounds the hip socket which helps support the hip joint. When alabral tear of the hipoccurs, a piece of this tissue can become pinched in the joint, causing pain and “catching” sensations with movement.
Hip labral tears can often be treated conservatively with RICE, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and steroid injections.Significant tears will require surgical consultation and possible hip arthroscopy.
Larger labral tears (or smaller tears that do not respond to conservative treatment) may requirehip arthroscopyto surgically repair the injury. Depending on the extent of the tear, recovery can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks.
Is Surgery the Best Option for Labral Tears?
Femoroacetabular Impingement
FAI is typically treated non-surgically with RICE, NSAIDs, and physical therapy. For those who fail to respond to conservative measures, hip arthroscopy may be recommended. While the surgery can improve symptoms, it has not been proven if it can do anything to prevent hip arthritis.
Stress fractures of the hiptypically occur in the upper neck of thefemur(thigh bone). These are often seen in long-distance runners who place repetitive stress on the hip, causing compression and the development of microfractures. These injuries are especially common in athletes with nutritional deficiencies or eating disorders.
Doctors will most often recommend non-surgical treatment of compression-type stress fractures. Athletes will be instructed to stay off the affected leg for a period of time,using crutchesif necessary. Pain can be treated withhot and cold treatmentsand NSAIDs.
If needed, arthroscopic surgery will focus on supporting the area of fracture withinternal fixation hardwaresuch as metal plates and screws.
How Stress Fractures Are Diagnosed and Treated
Sports hernias, also known as athleticpubalgia, is a painful soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin area. It is a problem commonly seen in hockey players but can occur in other sports that require repetitive twisting and turning at high speeds. A common cause of a sports hernia is an imbalance between the muscles of the hips and abdominals.
RICE and NSAIDs are generally recommended for the first 7 to 10 days of treatment, after which physical therapy may bring the athlete back to sports readiness within 4 to 6 weeks. If the condition is severe, surgery may be needed, performed either as anopen surgeryorlaparoscopically.
Symptoms and Treatment of a Groin Hernia
Arthritis of the hipsis increasingly seen in older athletes who may have already endured injuries during their sports career. The type most commonly seen in older athletes isosteoarthritis, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis.
Hip arthritis in athletes is treated the same as anyone else. In most cases, the condition is treated non-surgically with activity modification, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and possibly steroid injections.Lifestyle modifications that help manage and treat hip arthritis include weight reduction, proper footwear, and assistive devices.
Severe cases may require surgery, including hip arthroscopy,hip osteotomy,hip resurfacing,arthrodesis(joint fusion), orhip replacement.
A return to high-impact sports is not recommended for athletes with a hip replacement due to the risk ofjoint failureordislocation. If you undergo hip replacement, speak with yourorthopedic surgeonabout which sports are right for you.
How Osteoarthritis Is Diagnosed
Traumatic Subluxation and Dislocation
Completedislocation of the hip jointis a very rare hip injury; most commonly seen in high-speed car crashes. However, hipsubluxations, an injury where the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint is pushed part of the way out of the joint, are being recognized as a possible cause of hip pain in athletes.
These are seen more commonly in football players or soccer players who are frequently tackled or hit with blunt force.
A Word From Verywell
Hip pain is a common complaint of athletes in many different sports. Finding the best way to alleviate symptoms usually involves the input of an orthopedic surgeon, especially if there has been an injury. Recovery often requires time, rehabilitation, and most importantly patience to get you back to sport readiness.
What Is Iliopsoas Bursitis?
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kerbel YE, Smith CM, Prodromo JP, Nzeogu MI, Mulcahey MK.Epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes in the United States.Orthop J Sports Med.2018 May;6(5):2325967118771676. doi:10.1177/2325967118771676Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B.Low back pain in athletes.Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi:10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718Lynch TS, Bedi A, Larson CM.Athletic hip injuries.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171Varacallo M, Bordoni B.Hip pointer injuries (iliac crest contusions). In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated February 7, 2021.Johnson R.Osteitis pubis. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003;2(2):98-102. doi:10.1249/00149619-200304000-00009Williams CH, Sternard BT.Bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated September 11, 2019.Seidman AJ, Varacallo M.Trochanteric bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated June 29, 2020.Musick SR, Varacallo M.Snapping hip syndrome. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated August 26, 2020.Cleveland Clinic.Hip labral tear. Updated March 8, 2018.Woyski D, Mather R.Surgical treatment of labral tears: debridement, repair, reconstruction.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.2019 Sep;12(3):291-9. doi:10.1007/s12178-019-09575-1Pun S, Kumar D, Lane NE.Femoroacetabular impingement.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67(1):17-27. doi:10.1002/art.38887Behrens SB, Deren ME, Matson A, Fadale PD, Monchik KO.Stress fractures of the pelvis and legs in athletes: a review.Sports Health. 2013;5(2):165-74. doi:10.1177/1941738112467423Moerenhout K, Gkagkalis G, Laflamme GY, Rouleau DM, Leduc S, Benoit B.Total hip arthroplasty for bilateral femoral neck stress fracture: a case report and review of the literature.Adv Orthop. 2019;2019:2720736. doi:10.1155/2019/2720736Brown A, Abraham S, Remedios D, Chadwick SJ.Sports hernia: a clinical update.Br J Gen Pract.2013 Mar;63(608):e235-7. doi:10.3399/bjgp13X664432Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J.2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Dominick Meek Rm, Treacy R, Manktelow A, Timperley JA, Haddad FS.Sport after total hip arthroplasty: undoubted progress but still some unknowns.Bone Joint J.2020 Jun;102-B(6):661-3. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.102B6.BJJ-2020-0208Skelley NW, McCormick JJ, Smith MV.In-game management of common joint dislocations.Sports Health.2014;6(3):246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721Dawson-Amoah K, Raszewski J, Duplantier N, Sutton Waddell B.Dislocation of the hip: a review of types, causes, and treatment.Ochsner J.2018 Fall;18(3):242-52. doi:10.31486/toj.17.0079
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kerbel YE, Smith CM, Prodromo JP, Nzeogu MI, Mulcahey MK.Epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes in the United States.Orthop J Sports Med.2018 May;6(5):2325967118771676. doi:10.1177/2325967118771676Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B.Low back pain in athletes.Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi:10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718Lynch TS, Bedi A, Larson CM.Athletic hip injuries.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171Varacallo M, Bordoni B.Hip pointer injuries (iliac crest contusions). In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated February 7, 2021.Johnson R.Osteitis pubis. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003;2(2):98-102. doi:10.1249/00149619-200304000-00009Williams CH, Sternard BT.Bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated September 11, 2019.Seidman AJ, Varacallo M.Trochanteric bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated June 29, 2020.Musick SR, Varacallo M.Snapping hip syndrome. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated August 26, 2020.Cleveland Clinic.Hip labral tear. Updated March 8, 2018.Woyski D, Mather R.Surgical treatment of labral tears: debridement, repair, reconstruction.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.2019 Sep;12(3):291-9. doi:10.1007/s12178-019-09575-1Pun S, Kumar D, Lane NE.Femoroacetabular impingement.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67(1):17-27. doi:10.1002/art.38887Behrens SB, Deren ME, Matson A, Fadale PD, Monchik KO.Stress fractures of the pelvis and legs in athletes: a review.Sports Health. 2013;5(2):165-74. doi:10.1177/1941738112467423Moerenhout K, Gkagkalis G, Laflamme GY, Rouleau DM, Leduc S, Benoit B.Total hip arthroplasty for bilateral femoral neck stress fracture: a case report and review of the literature.Adv Orthop. 2019;2019:2720736. doi:10.1155/2019/2720736Brown A, Abraham S, Remedios D, Chadwick SJ.Sports hernia: a clinical update.Br J Gen Pract.2013 Mar;63(608):e235-7. doi:10.3399/bjgp13X664432Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J.2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Dominick Meek Rm, Treacy R, Manktelow A, Timperley JA, Haddad FS.Sport after total hip arthroplasty: undoubted progress but still some unknowns.Bone Joint J.2020 Jun;102-B(6):661-3. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.102B6.BJJ-2020-0208Skelley NW, McCormick JJ, Smith MV.In-game management of common joint dislocations.Sports Health.2014;6(3):246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721Dawson-Amoah K, Raszewski J, Duplantier N, Sutton Waddell B.Dislocation of the hip: a review of types, causes, and treatment.Ochsner J.2018 Fall;18(3):242-52. doi:10.31486/toj.17.0079
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kerbel YE, Smith CM, Prodromo JP, Nzeogu MI, Mulcahey MK.Epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes in the United States.Orthop J Sports Med.2018 May;6(5):2325967118771676. doi:10.1177/2325967118771676Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B.Low back pain in athletes.Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi:10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718Lynch TS, Bedi A, Larson CM.Athletic hip injuries.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171Varacallo M, Bordoni B.Hip pointer injuries (iliac crest contusions). In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated February 7, 2021.Johnson R.Osteitis pubis. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003;2(2):98-102. doi:10.1249/00149619-200304000-00009Williams CH, Sternard BT.Bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated September 11, 2019.Seidman AJ, Varacallo M.Trochanteric bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated June 29, 2020.Musick SR, Varacallo M.Snapping hip syndrome. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated August 26, 2020.Cleveland Clinic.Hip labral tear. Updated March 8, 2018.Woyski D, Mather R.Surgical treatment of labral tears: debridement, repair, reconstruction.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.2019 Sep;12(3):291-9. doi:10.1007/s12178-019-09575-1Pun S, Kumar D, Lane NE.Femoroacetabular impingement.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67(1):17-27. doi:10.1002/art.38887Behrens SB, Deren ME, Matson A, Fadale PD, Monchik KO.Stress fractures of the pelvis and legs in athletes: a review.Sports Health. 2013;5(2):165-74. doi:10.1177/1941738112467423Moerenhout K, Gkagkalis G, Laflamme GY, Rouleau DM, Leduc S, Benoit B.Total hip arthroplasty for bilateral femoral neck stress fracture: a case report and review of the literature.Adv Orthop. 2019;2019:2720736. doi:10.1155/2019/2720736Brown A, Abraham S, Remedios D, Chadwick SJ.Sports hernia: a clinical update.Br J Gen Pract.2013 Mar;63(608):e235-7. doi:10.3399/bjgp13X664432Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J.2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084Dominick Meek Rm, Treacy R, Manktelow A, Timperley JA, Haddad FS.Sport after total hip arthroplasty: undoubted progress but still some unknowns.Bone Joint J.2020 Jun;102-B(6):661-3. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.102B6.BJJ-2020-0208Skelley NW, McCormick JJ, Smith MV.In-game management of common joint dislocations.Sports Health.2014;6(3):246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721Dawson-Amoah K, Raszewski J, Duplantier N, Sutton Waddell B.Dislocation of the hip: a review of types, causes, and treatment.Ochsner J.2018 Fall;18(3):242-52. doi:10.31486/toj.17.0079
Kerbel YE, Smith CM, Prodromo JP, Nzeogu MI, Mulcahey MK.Epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes in the United States.Orthop J Sports Med.2018 May;6(5):2325967118771676. doi:10.1177/2325967118771676
Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B.Low back pain in athletes.Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi:10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718
Lynch TS, Bedi A, Larson CM.Athletic hip injuries.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2017 Apr;25(4):269-79. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00171
Varacallo M, Bordoni B.Hip pointer injuries (iliac crest contusions). In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated February 7, 2021.
Johnson R.Osteitis pubis. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003;2(2):98-102. doi:10.1249/00149619-200304000-00009
Williams CH, Sternard BT.Bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated September 11, 2019.
Seidman AJ, Varacallo M.Trochanteric bursitis. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated June 29, 2020.
Musick SR, Varacallo M.Snapping hip syndrome. In:StatPearls [Internet]. Updated August 26, 2020.
Cleveland Clinic.Hip labral tear. Updated March 8, 2018.
Woyski D, Mather R.Surgical treatment of labral tears: debridement, repair, reconstruction.Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.2019 Sep;12(3):291-9. doi:10.1007/s12178-019-09575-1
Pun S, Kumar D, Lane NE.Femoroacetabular impingement.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67(1):17-27. doi:10.1002/art.38887
Behrens SB, Deren ME, Matson A, Fadale PD, Monchik KO.Stress fractures of the pelvis and legs in athletes: a review.Sports Health. 2013;5(2):165-74. doi:10.1177/1941738112467423
Moerenhout K, Gkagkalis G, Laflamme GY, Rouleau DM, Leduc S, Benoit B.Total hip arthroplasty for bilateral femoral neck stress fracture: a case report and review of the literature.Adv Orthop. 2019;2019:2720736. doi:10.1155/2019/2720736
Brown A, Abraham S, Remedios D, Chadwick SJ.Sports hernia: a clinical update.Br J Gen Pract.2013 Mar;63(608):e235-7. doi:10.3399/bjgp13X664432
Lespasio MJ, Sultan AA, Piuzzi NS, et al.Hip osteoarthritis: a primer.Perm J.2018;22:17-084. doi:10.7812/TPP/17-084
Dominick Meek Rm, Treacy R, Manktelow A, Timperley JA, Haddad FS.Sport after total hip arthroplasty: undoubted progress but still some unknowns.Bone Joint J.2020 Jun;102-B(6):661-3. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.102B6.BJJ-2020-0208
Skelley NW, McCormick JJ, Smith MV.In-game management of common joint dislocations.Sports Health.2014;6(3):246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721
Dawson-Amoah K, Raszewski J, Duplantier N, Sutton Waddell B.Dislocation of the hip: a review of types, causes, and treatment.Ochsner J.2018 Fall;18(3):242-52. doi:10.31486/toj.17.0079
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