Hip labral tear
Why does my hip click and catch with a deep groin pain?
A tear in the cartilage rim of the hip socket, often linked with hip shape. Physiotherapist-led treatment is recommended first.
What it feels like
Deep pain in the groin or front of the hip, sometimes with clicking, catching or a feeling of the hip giving way, often worse with deep bending, twisting, pivoting sports or prolonged sitting.
What is actually happening
The labrum is a rim of cartilage around the hip socket that deepens it and helps seal the joint. It can be torn through injury, repeated deep hip bending, or in association with hip shape changes such as femoroacetabular impingement. Labral tears are also found in many people with no hip pain, so a scan finding alone does not explain symptoms.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor promptly if hip pain follows a fall or you cannot put weight on the leg, if it comes with a fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer, or if the pain is severe at night and at rest. In children and teenagers, hip or knee pain with a limp should always be checked by a doctor.
How it is assessed
Assessment covers your symptoms and sport, hip range of motion, clinical tests that reproduce the familiar pain, hip and trunk strength, and movement in squatting and single-leg tasks. A formal diagnosis involves imaging arranged by a physician, and I will refer you if that is needed.
How it is treated
International consensus recommends physiotherapist-led treatment as a first option for hip-related pain, including labral tears, for at least three months: progressive hip and trunk strengthening, movement retraining, education, and adjusting provoking positions. If symptoms persist despite a well-run programme, assessment by an orthopaedic surgeon may be appropriate.
What to do first
Reduce deep hip bending and pivoting for now, keep training the rest of your body, and have it assessed.
Where this is assessed
- The Runner's Academy St. Clair West · Mon/Wed/Fri · 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM Book at Runner's Academy
- Athlete's Care Sports Medicine Centres Yonge & Eglinton · Mon/Wed/Fri · 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Book at Athlete's Care
- Push Pounds Sports Medicine Downtown Toronto · Tue/Thu · 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM Call Push Pounds to book
References
This page is based on the following clinical practice guidelines and research.
- Kemp JL, Risberg MA, Mosler A, et al. Physiotherapist-led treatment for young to middle-aged active adults with hip-related pain: consensus recommendations from the International Hip-related Pain Research Network, Zurich 2018. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(9):504-511.
- Griffin DR, Dickenson EJ, O’Donnell J, et al. The Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI syndrome): an international consensus statement. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(19):1169-76.