All the Information About Hip Injuries You Will Ever Need

Often times people confuse a hip flexor injury with their hip injuries because hip injuries often cause a lot of hip flexor pain as well; this post will explain common Hip injuries so that you can understand the differences and similarities between the two better.

Hip Injuries Overview

Arthritis

Hip Arthritis is a progressive degradation disorder where the cartilage that protects the bursa and bones that interact at the hip joint is worn down to a point where it allows the bones to contact. Obviously bones were not designed to contact each other directly which is why this can be a very painful condition that limits mobility.

Broken Hip/Hip Fracture

A broken hip is just like any other broken bone in the body, it occurs somewhere on the Femur. There are 2 different classifications of broken hips which are Femoral and Intertrochanteric fractures. The break is classified depending on the location of the break, whether it's above the femur tip (the 'ball') or below the neck. Unlike other kinds of broken bones surgery is almost always necessary in order to heal the break.

Dislocation

Dislocations are very painful injuries that are caused by the femur (bone at the top of the leg) slipping out of the Hip joint socket. It can either slide forward or backwards along the pelvis which will result in the leg being twisted either outwards or inwards respectively and having a very limited and painful range of motion.

Hip Bursitis

A bursa is a small little liquid-filled sac that is found around bones in order to intercept contact between bones and tissue. When a hip bursa in particular becomes inflamed, the resulting condition is called Hip Bursitis. Depending on the specific bursa that becomes inflamed (the hip has many) they will have distinct names. In general there is significant pain during almost any movement when bursitis is developed.

Hip Osteonecrosis

Hip Osteonecrosis is a very peculiar Hip injury because no one has been able to pinpoint a consistent cause for the injury. The general consensus on the mechanism of the injury is that the hip bones receive a lack of blood flow to the area. This lack of blood flow means that bone cells are not able to reproduce at a necessary rate to maintain strength. The bone keeps weakening until the point that it is vulnerable to breaks and collapses.

Labral Tear of Hip Joint

The hip has a ring of flexible tissue named the Labrum that fits right over your femur at the hip joint socket. You can think of it much like an O-ring used for sealing in liquids in mugs and water bottles. A labral tear is simply a tear of the Labrum ring, which will affect the mobility of the joint. Typically there is a 'snagging' feeling in the hip when you are moving, that is caused by the tear.

Snapping Hip Syndrome

The condition arises when a tendon surrounding the hip (most likely a Hip Flexor muscle) becomes inflamed. As a result of this inflammation, when a movement is performed with the leg, the tendon catches onto a part of the hip. Think of the tendon like an elastic getting caught on your finger, when it finally slides by it releases in a 'snapping' sound.