Sports are great for health, general fitness, and strength. Sports do carry a risk of injury with them, however, and one of the most frequently injured areas is the hip. The hip joint is strong and beautifully stable but can be destroyed by running, twisting, jumping, or direct trauma. Footballers, basketballers, soccer players, hockey players, dancers, and long-distance runners are a few of the many sports people who too often create hips.
Hip injuries limit movements, are long-standing in pain, and will end a sporting career if not treated. This book will explain what sport hip injuries are, why and how they happen, what to watch out for, how they are cured, and how to prevent them.
Why Hip Injuries Are Common in Sports
Hip is a ball-and-socket joint, or a big body joint of a body. The hip connects the thigh bone (femur) and pelvis and helps to move the body. In the field, during playing sports, the hip always comes into stress by helping to run, kick, jump, and twist.
Players become susceptible to hip injury due to:
- Sudden change in direction causes muscle strain
- Direct trauma due to falls and colliding leads to instability of ligaments and bones
- Wear and tear due to overuse while training or competing
Hip Injury in Sport
There are different classifications of hip injury an athlete is subjected to. They range from the mild strain to surgical and acute ones. Among the most common ones are:
Hip Flexor Strain
Hip flexors are the front muscles of the hip which are involved in lifting the leg. Muscle strain arises due to an abrupt movement or overstretching. It occurs in martial arts, soccer, and football.
Symptoms: Front hip pain, cannot lift the leg, swelling, and bruising.
Groin Strain
Groin muscle glides down on the medial thigh and is stabilized near the hip. Kicking, running, or sudden turning produces muscle rupture or tear.
Symptoms: Inner thigh or hip pain, stiff side movement, and tenderness on pressure.
Hip Labral Tear
Labrum is a ring of cartilage surrounding the socket of the hip and in its center. It’s rotated or chronically traumatized. It’s seen in dancers, and hockey players. Also in those who play pivoting sports.
Symptoms: Pain deep in the hip, catching or clicking sensation, stiffness, and restriction of movement.
Hip Bursitis
Bursae are sacs containing fluid that lubricate the joints to ensure that minimal friction among the joints can be guaranteed. Upon repetitive movement of the hip or due to trauma, the bursae become inflamed and lead to bursitis.
Symptoms: Side lying pain, outer hip pain, swelling, stinging pain when running or climbing stairs.
Dislocation of Hip
Serious trauma where the head of the hip joint is dislocated out of its socket, usually secondary to blow or fall or trauma.
Symptoms: Serious pain, immobilization of the leg, visible deformity, and numbness. Medical emergency.
Stress Fracture
Stress fracture or hip bone fracture secondary to repetitive stress or overuse. It occurs in runners and well-conditioned sportsmen who are not provided with proper rest.
Symptoms: Pain on movement, limping, and tenderness.
Tendonitis
Diffuse inflammation of the tendons that surround the hip. In runners, weightlifters, and cyclists.
Symptoms: Painful aching, stiffness, and painful motion of the hip.
Hip Pointer
Contusion or bruising of the hip bone by direct trauma. It usually involves sports like football and hockey.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and bruising of the hip bone.
Symptoms of Hip Injuries
Other types of injuries will have other symptoms, but injured athletes will most probably report to the clinic with:
- Hip, thigh, or groin pain
- Swelling and bruising
- Stiffness or limitation of range of motion
- Clicking, popping, or locking noises
- Weakness on running, jumping, or lifting the leg
- Activity-maintained and rest-corrected pain
Reasons for Hip Injury in Sport
Hip injury due to various reasons including:
- Overuse: Repetitive performance of a similar motion on a daily basis without sufficient rest.
- Sudden impact: Bumps, falls, or tackles.
- Insufficient training: Inadequate warm-up, incorrect technique, or poor core muscles.
- Weak muscles: Hip muscle weakening and core destabilization disables the joint.
- Incorrect flexibility: Tight muscle places too much stress on the hip joint.
- Surface and shoes: Hard ground or flat-soled shoes multiplies impact stress.
Diagnosis of Hip Injuries
In the case of repetitive hip pain, the patient should consult a doctor. Diagnosis typically entails:
- Medical history: Symptom inquiry, sports exercise, and past history of injury.
- Physical examination: Testing of strength, movement, and tenderness.
- Imaging tests: X-ray for bone films, MRI for cartilage and muscle films, and CT scan for optimum views.
Hip Injury Treatment
Depending on type and severity of injury.
Home Care and Rest
In superficial straining and bruising:
- Compression bandages for stability
- Ice packs to limit swelling
- Leg elevation to minimize swelling
- Rest from sports until disappearance of pain
Medications
- Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce swelling
Physical Rehabilitation
- Strengthening and stabilizing and balancing exercises
- Making good movement habits so re-injury is prevented
Injections
- Corticosteroid injections to relieve bad pain
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in some circumstances
Surgery
If there is severe injury such as labral tears, hip dislocations, or fracture:
- Full arthroscopic reconstruction of the labrum
- Hip replacement or reconstruction in very severe instances
- Fixation of the fracture by surgery
Time of Recovery
Depending on the injury:
- Bruise or strain: 1 to 3 weeks
- Muscle tear: 4 to 6 weeks
- Labral surgery or tear: 3 to 6 months
- Hip fracture or replacement: 6 months to 1 year
The player must not play without approval from the doctor or physical therapist.
Prevention of Hip Injuries
Prevention is always better. There is a method of reducing the risk of injury by:
- Warming up: Warm up and stretch ahead of time for training every time.
- Building muscle strength: Hips, thighs, and core are where it’s at.
- Greater flexibility: Stretch on a regular basis to avoid strain.
- Proper form: Build correct posture and movement.
- Properly shoe’d: Supportive footwear reduces impact stress.
- Resting: Allow the body to recover.
- Cross-training: Mix exercises to avoid overuse injury.
Cost of Hip Injury Rehabilitation
Depends on location and severity:
- Office visit: 100 to 300 dollars
- X-ray: 200 to 500 dollars
- MRI: 800 to 2,000 dollars
- Physical therapy: 50 to 150 dollars a session
- Cortisone injection: 100 to 500 dollars
- Surgery: 10,000 to 40,000 dollars based on type
The medical treatment is covered, particularly for bad injury.
Hip Injury Lifestyle
Injured athletes may return to the game if well treated and taken care of. Returning to the game too soon or not wanting to get injured, however, can lead to long-term damage. It is advisable to:
- Do as instructed by the doctors
- Go for physical therapy appointments
- Don’t play when injured
- Use protective gear if needed
- Take it easy while recovering
FAQs
Hip injuries are serious?
They are minor or very serious such as dislocations or fractures, and the latter require immediate medical care.
Can I play sport with hip pain?
It’s best not to. Playing while in pain can worsen the site.
Do hip injuries always require surgery?
No. Most of them only require rest, therapy, and medication for pain. The worst of the bunch are those to which surgery is applicable.
Does children ever suffer from sports-induced hip injury?
Yes. Teenagers and children are not exempt from hip injury either, usually as a result of collision sports or overuse.
How long do I have to wait before I can go back to playing after suffering a hip injury?
It would depend on the injury. It would take weeks for the minor ones or months for the severe ones.
Sport hip injury is common but avoidable. From a small strain to an open fracture, they can bench an athlete from competition, training, and game. Proper diagnosis, effective treatment, and conservative rehabilitation can allow most athletes to engage in sport whole.
Prevention is the best. Warm ahead of time, condition the muscles, and rest when the body has to. If hip pain continues, do not “tough it out.” See a specialist or doctor and have an examination done. Taking care of the hip today will keep the athlete healthy and strong down the road.
