Hip pain evaluation and treatment for athletes

Hip traumatic and overuse injuries are common in pediatric and adolescent athletes. Distinguishing pain that is related to intraarticular versus extraarticular conditions is key in devising appropriate treatment recommendations. With advancements in hip preservation surgery in the past 2 decades, understanding the role of hip deformity with or without a hip labral tear in the athlete's presentation is needed for careful evaluation and treatment plan. Though conservative care has not been defined, treatment should focus on relative rest, activity modification, improvement in muscle length, strength, and motor control across the lumbopelvic girdle and attention to sport-specific activities. Healthcare providers must also apply these principles to the care of extraarticular hip conditions whether they occur in isolation or cofounding with intraarticular hip conditions.