What Is a Hip Labral Tear?
The labrum is the thick layer of cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket joint, known as the acetabulum. It helps deepen the hip socket securing the head of the femur with the thick ligaments of the hip joint and capsule.
A tear to the labrum is often related to activities involving repetitive pivoting or hip flexion movements as commonly seen in athletic activities.
Symptoms
The cause of your hip pain can be difficult to pinpoint because of the number of structures within the hip. Symptoms of a labral tear can vary widely among individuals and sometimes may not cause any symptoms at all. However, a few common symptoms include:
-
Pain – Pain may be felt in the groin, front of hip or outside of hip with extended sitting, during physical activity such as running, pivoting movements, walking on an incline.
-
Limited range of movement – A hip labral tear may make it difficult to move the hip joint or cause stiffness at the joint.
-
Locking or clicking – The hip may lock or click during movement. Individuals may also experience a catching sensation in the hip joint.
Treatment Options
If you are experiencing pain in your hip, schedule an appointment to see an experienced sports medicine or orthopedic provider. A specialist will work closely with you to understand your symptoms and help identify the source of your pain. Treatment options can vary depending on the severity of your condition and your goals for treatment. Your provider may recommend:
-
Rest – Relative rest from activities inciting hip pain.
-
Physical therapy – A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to help strengthen your core, hip and legs to improve flexibility and strengthen muscles that work the hip joint as well as improve motion to the hip.
-
Medication – Anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation in and around the hip.
-
Injections – Corticosteroid injection may be discussed or recommended to reduce inflammation.
-
Surgery – If a conservative treatment approach does not address your hip pain, your doctor may discuss surgery. At Temple Health, we’re proud to offer the latest advances in care, including hip arthroscopy to repair the labrum and address any other contributing issues.
Ready for an Appointment?
If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of hip labral tear, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.
Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat hip labral tear.