The hip and its joint undergoes a lot of use during exercising, especially in cardiovascular workouts. A number of conditions can cause hip pain, not all of which necessarily involve the hip directly. It is important that you speak with your doctor if you experience chronic hip pain during and after exercise. He can help correctly diagnose the cause.
Femoral Neck Stress Fracture
A femoral neck stress fracture is a difficult injury to diagnose. The pain that originates in the hip can be misleading and feel more like it is coming from the thigh or back. A physical exam is typically not thorough enough to localize the source of the pain; X-rays and bone scans are more effective in diagnosing femoral neck stress fractures. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, these fractures are spurred on by exercise and become progressively more painful until the pain is noticeable even at rest.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a cause of hip pain that occurs due to exercise or direct applied pressure. The condition affects small pads in the hip called bursae. These pads are filled with fluid, which provide cushioning between and around your bones, tendons and muscles near the hip joints. Bursae become inflamed and painful from frequent repetitive motions, such as those performed when running or rowing. Rest and physical therapy are generally recommended for treating bursitis. The condition can also occur in the shoulders, elbows and other joint locations.
Intra-Articular Loose Bodies
It is possible for loose bodies to accumulate at the hip joint. The loose bodies often collect in the deepest portion on the concave surface of the pelvis, known as the acetabulum. This intra-articulation of loose bodies can cause hip pain during and after exercise.
Your doctor diagnoses this condition with a log roll, by which your lower-body is gently rotated inwards and outwards while on your back. Medical tests, such as radiography or magnetic resonance arthrography, can also help diagnose the condition. Arthroscopy may be performed if too many loose bodies have accumulated.
Muscle Strain and Hip Tendinitis
A strained muscle that connects near the hip joint can sometimes mislead an initial hip pain diagnosis. Though the pain may feel like it is coming from the hip, the strained muscle is likely the root cause. Your doctor will check for tender muscles and pain from stretching the affected muscles. The best cure for a strained muscle is rest and a pack of ice applied to the muscle. Physical therapy may be needed with more serious strains. Hip tendinitis shares the same symptoms and is treated much like a strained muscle.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Hip Pain in Athletes; Samuel Adkins and Richard Figler; April 2000
- MayoClinic.com: Bursitis
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Hip Impingement--Identifying and Treating a Common Cause of Hip Pain; Geoffrey Kuhlman and Benjamin Domb; December 2009
- "Orthopedics"; Intra-articular Loose Body Removal During Hip Arthroscopy; Filippo Randelli, et al.; July 2010
