Hip Injuries

What are hip injuries?

Hip injuries become more common in patients as they age. There are a variety of ways in which you can injure your hip, and common hip injuries include broken hips, dislocated hips, and labral tears. Another type of hip injury is bursitis, which occurs when the fluid-filled sacs that lubricate and cushion your joints become swollen and inflamed. In addition, another type of hip injury called snapping hip syndrome is common among gymnasts, ballet dancers, and soccer players.

What causes hip injuries?

These types of injuries can occur for a variety of different reasons. The joints in your hips gradually degrade as you age, which can lead to bursitis, and osteoporosis can weaken your hips as you get older, which makes you more at risk to break your hip. Other causes of hip injuries include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer or tumors, avascular necrosis, tendon and muscle strain, hip labral tears, and tendonitis, repetitive stress from overuse . In addition, athletes can break or dislocate their hips if they land incorrectly from a jump or experience a fall.

How are hip injuries diagnosed?

In general, a doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you a variety of questions to better understand the nature of your hip injury. Your doctor may also refer you for an X-ray or MRI scan depending on the type of hip injury that you have sustained.

How are hip injuries treated?

Different types of hip injuries require different types of treatment. If you break your hip, you will almost always need surgery, and you may require a total hip replacement. Other types of injuries, such as dislocations, are easier to treat, and conditions such as bursitis can be treated with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications. No matter what type of hip injury you sustain, physical therapy can be a powerful tool to have at your disposal as you recover and regain full mobility.