Conditions

Hip sports injuries

Athletes commonly experience hip pain. Hip pain could be a result of a muscle strain or other associated causes linked to hip bursitis, stress fractures, hip labral tears, sports hernias or Femoroacetabular impingement.

Common hip sports injuries include:

  • Tendon damage or Avulsion fractures: In some cases, with specific hip movements, the tendon can come off your bone along with a small portion of the bone. In most cases, the injury will heal after successful rehabilitation and rest. Still, in other situations, if the tendon becomes misplaced, the orthopaedic surgeon will have to perform surgery to correct this.
  • Labral tears: Your labrum ensures hip stability but can be susceptible to damage as a result of wear and tear. If conservative treatment fails to work, Dr Botha will perform arthroscopy or open surgery to repair your labrum.
  • Bursitis: Hip bursitis occurs when the bursae that are soft, liquid-filled pillows that cushion your ligaments, tendons and muscles become inflamed. When the bursae become swollen, the area that surrounds these sacs becomes painful. Usually, exercises, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroid shots treat bursitis, but if these treatments fail, surgery might be considered.

What is Femoroacetabular impingement?

Femoroacetabular impingement or hip impingement occurs as a result of repetitive hip flexion that injures the cartilage of your hip socket.

What are some of the causes of hip impingement?

Hip impingement may arise from deformities of the ball and socket. Cam impingement develops when the femoral head is unusually shaped, and the deformed portion of the head gets stuck in the socket when you bend your hip. When you cycle or bend down, you will experience discomfort from cam impingement. 

Pincer impingement is another form of hip impingement that occurs when acetabulum protrudes too far out that during normal hip flexion movement the neck of your femur collides into the edge of the socket. 

What are the signs of hip impingement?

In its initial stages, hip impingement usually presents no symptoms. When you do experience signs of hip impingement, these symptoms will include:

  • Stiffness in your thigh or groin area
  • Limited hip flexion
  • Groin pain particularly after hip flexion movements
  • Pain in your hip, groin or lower back

How is hip impingement treated?

An accurate diagnosis of hip impingement is essential to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis and damage to your cartilage. Dr Botha diagnoses hip impingement through an x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan.

Once the doctor confirms a diagnosis, she suggests conservative treatment in the form of physiotherapy, pain management and injections. However, if conservative treatment fails to produce the desired results, Dr Botha will recommend arthroscopy or open surgery to repair impingement deformities. To relieve impingement of your hip joint, the orthopaedic surgeon realigns your joint. Through surgical realignment, Dr Botha reduces or eliminates unusual contact. Even an abnormal femoral head can be re-sculpted through an osteoplasty or debridement procedure.

1Are hip injuries common?
All people, both young and old, are vulnerable to hip injuries. Older people are more prone to hip injuries and fractures because bone density declines with age. In addition, bones can become more brittle due to a degenerative disease, osteoporosis. Along with brittle bones, the joints lose their flexibility as well.
2Is there surgery to treat hip impingement?
Dr Botha carries out arthroscopic surgery to treat hip impingement when conservative treatments do not relieve pain. This procedure can be carried out through small incisions above the hip. She will correct the CAM / PINCER deformity arthroscopically and repair the labrum if needed.
3Can you run even after finding out you have hip bursitis?
It is better to walk after being diagnosed with hip bursitis. However, jumping and running should be avoided. Conservative remedies such as cold therapy, physical therapy to strengthen the inner thighs, and heat therapy can help relieve pain temporarily.
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Healing is movement. Disease is inertia.
If you put the body in motion, you will change.

Gabrielle Roth