Beware These 5 Causes of a Hip Labral Tear

Football. The twisting and turning as a football player moves down the field, evading opponents as he makes his way puts a lot of stress on the hip joint. Combine that force with full body impact between players and there is the potential for leg and hip injuries, including trauma to the labrum, the protective ring of cartilage that holds the hip in place. Far more common than a labral tear resulting from a single injury on the field is the wear and tear that repetitive twisting motions from games and practices places on the hip joint. The hip labral tear that can result from these football injuries is sometimes mistaken for the more common groin injury as the pain symptoms can be similar. Physical therapy that treats the affected joint is the first line of treatment and is usually effective in young healthy athletes.