Hip Injuries

Written by: Dr. Mark Adickes, orthopedic surgeon and co-medical director at the Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine & Human Performance

You're not alone if running is a pain in the hip

If you've felt pain in your hips during or after running, you're in good company. In fact, hip pain is one of the most common complaints by athletes.
Hip pain is most often caused by inflammation within tendons or soft tissues. Common problems include:
• Muscle strains, including groin pulls and hamstring strains
• Trochanteric bursitis, which causes inflammation of the bursa, or soft tissue, over the hip joint.
• Tendonitis, which affects the tendons around the hip joint

Old injuries may be a factor

Many hip problems are caused by insertional tendonitis, which is an inflammation of the tendon where it inserts into a bone. This often causes problems in the hip flexor, the muscle that helps lift the knee. Injuries of the hip abductor or external rotator muscle, which may cause weakness, poor mechanical utilization and imbalance, also are common hip injuries.
Old injuries or other pre-existing issues often are the causes behind hip pain. A torn labrum, the ring of cartilage around the hip socket, is sometimes the culprit. This injury may cause a sharp pain around the groin, which may extend into the upper leg or buttocks. The pain may be sudden or gradual, and it may be particularly severe when the leg is rotated. Often, it causes a feeling of "catching" in the hip socket with movement.
Hip pain frequently occurs because of a difference in leg length or a foot problem that alters the person's stride or gait. Often the abnormality of gait or foot pathology has been there for a long time and it finally manifests itself.
Other times, a problem may have been caused by an injury that altered the gait. For instance, a person may develop knee pain then alters his or her gait to compensate for it. In older runners, a decrease in range of motion in the hips and back may cause motion restriction and muscle overload.

Practice prevention, patience

To avoid hip pain and injuries:

• Warm up properly before exercising
• Wear good, well-fitting shoes
• Stop to stretch during exercise
• Have any pre-existing leg, foot or hip problems checked before beginning training

Strengthening or resistance exercises can make the muscles and tendons of your hip area stronger and help them perform properly. This type of exercise might include using weight machines or elastic bands, swimming, or walking on stairs or hills.
Sometimes, a little prevention and TLC can head off hip pain before it becomes a major problem. If you are starting to have hip pain, don't push through the pain. Stop running and cross train for a couple of days. Do some gentle stretching and treat the pain with ibuprofen. Allow the area to calm down for a few days before getting back into your training regimen.
If the pain is persistent and does not go away with rest and stretching, visit your
doctor.

Sometimes, a little prevention and TLC can head off hip pain before it becomes a major problem. If you are starting to have hip pain, don't push through the pain. Stop running and cross train for a couple of days. Do some gentle stretching and treat the pain with ibuprofen. Allow the area to calm down for a few days before getting back into your training regimen.
If the pain is persistent and does not go away with rest and stretching, visit your doctor.

Click here to learn more about how to avoid sports injuries.