The following is a summary of Enseki, K et al (2014). Nonarthritic hip joint pain – clinical practice guidelines. JOSPT, 44, 6, A1-A32. Intra-articular conditions, other than OA, that can lead to hip pain are discussed below. This does not include extra-articular soft-tissue conditions, such as trochanteric pain syndrome, adductor strain, psoas tendinopathy, etc. Many of the following conditions do have the potential to progress to hip OA. Common non-articular hip conditions

Chronic hip joint pain sometimes occurs in young to middle-aged individuals and can be quite disabling. There is growing evidence that such pain is often associated with the later development of hip osteoarthritis. Diagnoses commonly associated with these symptoms include femoro-acetabular impingement, labral tears, chondral lesions, and developmental dysplasia. While dysplasia should be apparent on plain imaging, FAI is often missed. And early-stage cartilage pathology can o

In the last 10 years, acetabular labral tears have been increasingly recognized as a potential cause of hip pain and disability. However, pain in the hip and groin region can be due to a number of causes, and accurate clinical diagnosis is challenging. The following is a summary of a recent paper examining what we currently know about diagnosing symptomatic labral tears. Depending on which study is quoted, the prevalence of acetabular labral tears (ALT) in patients with hip o

In recent times more patients have been presenting with radiographic diagnoses of FAI or ‘cam’ impingement. This is because the condition is being recognized much more frequently. This newsletter is an update on the information regarding this common and often problematic condition. FAI was first described by Ganz (2003), and he suggested bony abnormalities present from childhood could ultimately lead to degenerative hip disease. FAI is present in 20% to over 30% of the genera

Research has shown that dry needling, targeting muscle trigger points, was at least as effective as corticosteroid injections for treating lateral pain syndrome of the hip. Background: Up to 25% of the general population will suffer from lateral hip pain, with females being affected more frequently than males. Research has shown that the trochanteric bursa is rarely the source of symptoms in lateral hip pain sufferers and that inflammation is not a feature of the condition. I

(This is a summary of Grimaldi & Fearon, 2015). Gluteal tendinopathy (GT) results in pain over the greater trochanter that may extend down the lateral thigh. It is most commonly reported in people over the age of 40, with women being up to 4 times more likely to experience this condition. Common complaints are difficulty lying on the affected side at night, pain with standing, walking, climbing up and down stairs, and sitting. Pathoanatomy: GT is often likened to shoulder rot