Hip labral tears

Hip labral tears can be caused by:

• falling
• a car or cycling accident
• overusing your hip in activities such as ballet, cricket and football.

The shape of your hip bones can also have an impact. You are more at risk of having a labral tear if you have:

• a slight abnormality in the shape of your hip joint (femoroacetabular impingement)
• hip dysplasia (shallow or misaligned hip sockets).

Some common symptoms of hip labral tears include:

• hip pain — this could be a constant dull ache or a sharp pain when doing activities
• stiffness or limited range of motion in the hip joint
• a clicking or popping sound when you move your hip
• catching or locking in the hip joint.

If you have a small tear, you might not have any symptoms.

If your healthcare provider suspects you have a labral tear, you might need an:

• MRI scan
• x-ray to check the shape of your hip bones.

Your healthcare provider might refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment. This could include an ultrasound-guided injection. A specialist will use an ultrasound machine and carefully inject a medicine into the spot they think the tear might be. This will help them to confirm a diagnosis.

If your pain temporarily goes away after the injection, it proves that the labral tear seen on the scan is the source of your pain.

A physiotherapist can give you:

• advice about activities to avoid, cut down or modify
• advice on managing your symptoms, such as avoiding positions that take your hips to the limits of their movement
• exercises to improve the strength of the muscles that support your hip joint and to help with your balance.

You may be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon if your hip pain does not improve. They will consider whether you might need surgery.

Labral tears often happen because of the shape of your hip bones. It can be difficult to prevent them.

The best thing you can do is to avoid movements that put stress on your hips, such as:

• movements that are continuous or fast and repetitive
• too much deep squatting
• taking very long strides when walking.

Examples of activities that can cause problems are:

• long-distance running
• the sudden twisting or pivoting motions common in golf or softball.

Do strengthening exercises often. These will help protect your hip joints. It is also a good idea to do regular activities such as:

• running
• swimming
• cycling
• hill walking.