Hip Injuries in Professional Athletes

The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint with a labral rim, strong capsule and large muscle attachments.

Common conditions include labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), hip flexor and adductor strains, bursitis and osteoarthritis.

Impingement from bony shape changes is associated with earlier labral damage and arthritis.

• Explosive acceleration, cutting and rotation load the hip at end range repeatedly.
• Deep squatting positions — line stance, catcher's crouch — press the femoral neck against the socket rim.
• Adolescent high-volume training is associated with the bony changes that later cause impingement.

Hip arthritis in former athletes at relatively young ages is commonly attributed to career loading.

Labral damage typically develops gradually and may be identified only after retirement.

More on how repetitive-exposure claims work: Cumulative trauma explained.

• Groin pain, often described as deep and hard to localize
• Stiffness putting on socks and shoes
• Clicking, catching or locking
• Limping after activity or long periods of sitting
• Reduced walking tolerance

• Examination with impingement and range-of-motion testing
• X-ray for joint-space narrowing and bony morphology
• MRI or MR arthrogram for labral evaluation
• Diagnostic intra-articular injection in some cases

• Records of groin and hip strains, injections and any arthroscopy
• Imaging from the playing career
• Team injury reports, athletic training room logs and daily treatment notes
• Team physician and consulting specialist records, including imaging reports
• Surgical operative reports and post-operative rehabilitation notes
• Contracts, transaction history and roster or practice-squad records showing dates of employment
• Post-career medical records from primary care doctors, orthopedists and other specialists

Hip conditions are usually claimed as cumulative trauma, sometimes with a specific aggravating event.

Hip replacement in a former athlete is generally a significant component of both treatment and impairment.

Related lumbar and knee conditions are frequently claimed alongside, since altered gait affects the whole chain.

Rules differ by state and by sport. Eligibility factors and types of compensation cover the general framework.

• Physical therapy and gait training
• Injections for arthritis or bursitis
• Arthroscopic labral repair or impingement correction
• Total hip replacement and possible future revision

• Impairment is generally based on motion loss, arthritis severity and surgical history, including replacement.
• Joint replacement usually carries a defined impairment value and ongoing future medical considerations.
• Standing and walking restrictions affect post-career work capacity.