1. The Hip Bone Is Connected to the Thigh Bone
So many joint problems involve the knees, shoulders, ankles or elbows that we tend to forget another joint that can sustain injury--the hips. A common injury to the hip is a labrum tear. Labrum is the cartilage that lines the socket (acetabulum) of the hip, allowing for freedom of movement, preventing bone rubbing on bone and giving stability to the joint. A hip labrum tear or acetabular labral tear results when an movement or illness causes a tear in this cartilage.
2. When Hips Go Bad
Many hip labral tears are the result of sports injuries. Twisting of the hips such as in baseball or golf can lead to wear and tear on the socket and the possibility of a tear in the labrum. Such injuries are also frequent in contact sports like football or soccer (resulting from kicking the ball, or being tackled and twisting the hip unnaturally). Osteoarthritis can wear down the cartilage and make it more susceptible to tearing. A condition called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), which is when the head of the femur rubs abnormally against the socket, resulting in too much friction that can tear the labrum, is thought to be a major cause of a hip labral tear.
3. Hip Deep in Pain
The pain of a hip labral tear can be sudden when the hip experiences a trauma that causes the tear, such as in sports. Most tears, however, display no symptoms, and can sometimes go undiagnosed. When the injury does present itself, you might have a stiffness in the joint, pain in the groin area and a clicking noise when moving the joint. The hip might also lock on occasion when there is a tear in the labrum.
4. Getting Back to Feeling Hip
Treatment for a hip labral tear has come a long way in the past 20 years or so, with the invention of arthroscopic surgery. This method allows doctors to enter the hip joint with a tiny scope and make repairs to the tear in the labrum by a procedure known as trimming. Crutches will then be used for up to five days, followed by physical therapy to return the range of motion, strength and stability to the joint. In addition, corticosteroid injections and pain medications can alleviate inflammation and pain.
5. Prevention Goes a Long Way
Unfortunately, there exists no specific exercise regime that targets the prevention of hip labral tears. However, strengthening and developing lower body muscles of the legs and hips and performing stability exercises can help to prevent such injuries to the labrum. Not participating in sports that can lead to hip labral tears, most notably when one's muscles are fatigued, is also a great preventive measure against hip injuries.
