The hip flexors are a group of muscles that are located in the front top of the thigh and extend into the hip. They are responsible for bringing the thigh towards the chest and moving the hip forward. These muscles can become pulled, strained or torn, which can lead to pain and swelling. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear to prevent this injury from getting worse. The first step is to determine the cause of hip flexor pain and the severity of the injury.
Overuse
Hip flexor injuries are common in individuals who participate in sports that require repetitive jumping, running and kicking. Too much of any activity that brings the knee towards the chest such as biking, can also cause problems states the Kapi'olani Medical Center. Repetitive movements can cause the tendon or muscles to become inflamed and sore. If the injury is minor (no tear in the tendon or muscle), then resting and icing the hip along with anti inflammatory medication, may be all that is required. It will then be necessary to return back to activities slowly and only after symptoms fully resolve. This can take one or several weeks depending on the severity of the injury. It will also be necessary to take time to warm up before and stretch after working out. Working with a coach or trainer to learn how to participate in favorite sports, without overusing the hip flexor muscles, will also help.
Forceful Movements
Activities such as sprinting or sports such as basketball or soccer that require quick starting and stopping movements can cause hip flexor pain. These actions may forcefully pull on the hip flexor muscles and cause an injury. A direct blow to the area can cause problems as well. While an injury due to overuse, initially causes minor pain that gradually gets worse, a forceful blow to or contraction of the muscle, will result in immediate severe pain. If the injury is not treated as soon as symptoms occur or if the motion was forceful enough, the muscle and tendons can partially or completely tear, claims the Richard Stockton College. Once a tear occurs complete rest is required and the injury can take weeks or months to heal. If there is a severe tear, surgery may be required.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Patients with severe hip arthritis or hip injury, may need surgery to replace the hip joint with a prosthesis. In rare cases, there can be residual hip flexor pain in some patients, warns the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. If this occurs after surgery, there is hip flexor pain that tends to get worse when lifting the leg straight out to the front or when bringing the knee towards the chest. Why this happens in some patients and not others is still not well understood. In some cases, pain was relieved through steroid injections while other patients needed further surgery to release any impingement to the muscles or nerves in the area.
