Hip pain in young and active adults is often caused by non-arthritic conditions - problems involving the soft tissues, cartilage, or bone alignment rather than hip arthritis. These conditions can result from repetitive motion, sports activity, or underlying structural issues that affect hip stability and joint mechanics.
Below is a brief description of 6 common causes of hip pain in young adults.
Injury to the acetabular labrum — the cartilage ring that lines the rim of the hip socket (acetabulum). It often results from repetitive hip motion or twisting and may occur in the setting of structural issues such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or hip microinstability.
Abnormal contact between the head–neck of the femur and the rim of the hip socket (acetabulum). These bony abnormalities can pinch or tear the acetabular labrum and damage the joint cartilage.
Occurs when the hip joint lacks sufficient stability to keep the femoral head (the “ball”) centered within the acetabulum (the “socket”). It is often related to hip dysplasia (a shallow socket) or capsular laxity (a loose joint capsule).
GTPS refers to pain on the outer (lateral) aspect of the hip, near the prominent bony area called the greater trochanter. This pain is commonly due to inflammation or bursitis at the greater trochanter.
Repetitive mechanical loading can cause microscopic damage to the bone, which can progress to a stress fracture without adequate rest and nutrition.
Repetitive twisting, cutting, or kicking motions can cause a core muscle injury that often involves the lower abdominal and inner thigh muscles that attach to the pubic bone.
If you are suffering from hip pain, please schedule an appointment with a hip specialist at the South Carolina Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center today.
