Health Topics for Sports Medicine

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

UI Family Care

Hip injuries

Your hip and pelvis area must handle constant and demanding workloads. This is true not only when you are playing sports, but also while doing daily tasks. When you get injured, healing is a long and tough process, and recovery calls for a lot of patience.

Hip and pelvis injuries can result from a fall, direct blow, twist, or excessive muscle contraction. Injuries include dislocations, broken bones, and bruised or strained muscles. Dislocations and breaks of the hip and pelvis are emergencies. They need medical care without delay, call 911. Damage to nerves and blood vessels can cause permanent weakness, numbness, and difficulty moving.

Other types of breaks can occur in growing children. An excessive muscle contraction can pull off part of the muscle attachment from the pelvic bone. This type of injury is most likely to occur when a child is jumping, sprinting, or playing soccer or football. The severe pain requires immediate medical care.

Bruises of the bony portion of the hipbone are sometimes called hip "pointers." Ice massage can reduce the pain and swelling. A healthcare provider may need to make sure there is no break.

Muscle strains occur when hip muscles are stretched, torn, or ruptured where the muscles attach to the thighbone. Sudden pain and limited movement are symptoms of severe strains. These should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Re-injury is common. Recovery may take 6 to 12 weeks until healing is complete.

Overuse injuries of the hip include bursitis, tendonitis, and stress fractures. These injuries develop over time from muscle contractions and pounding of the legs. Bursitis is the inflammation of the lining sac around the hip joint. Tendonitis is a gradual tearing of tendon fibers that leads to irritation and pain. Stress fractures of the hip and pelvis are rare. They are seen mostly in highly conditioned athletes.

To recover, stop doing the activity that is causing the pain. Use RICE therapy: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest the affected area, do not use or bear weight (standing, walking, etc.), until evaluated by provider. Apply a cloth-covered ice pack to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes at a time, 4 to 8 times a day. The healthcare provider may suggest using an elastic bandage to the area to help reduce swelling. The affected part should be elevated so it is 12 inches above the heart to help reduce swelling. If pain persists, seek medical care.

Take medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs, as directed on the label and if approved by your healthcare provider. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

Acetaminophen should not be taken by anyone with known liver or kidney disease. Do not drink alcohol when taking more than 1 dose of acetaminophen.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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