Hip And Groin Injuries

Anatomy and Physiology of the Hip and Groin

The hip and groin area is the most stable joint section in the body. The hip is a true ball and socket joint providing excellent mobility while still acting as the primary weight bearing sector of the body.

The hip consists of three fused pelvic bones – the ilium, pubis, and ischium. Joint movement is provided by the connection between the round head of the upper leg bone, the femur, and the pelvic concave where the top of the femur rests.

This concave is called the acetabulum and is lined in a layer of articular hyaline cartilage that keeps the resistance between the pelvis and femur to a minimum.

The hip area is surrounded by thick powerful muscles that include the gluteals, the quadriceps, the hamstrings and several other muscles that help form a stable relationship between the hip and knee.

Because of the hip’s ability to provide adduction, abduction, flexion, extension and rotation via its ball and socket joint, injuries to nearby groin muscles are not uncommon. The various muscles stretching from the inside of the groin to the lateral lower leg such as the gracilis, pectineus and the adductor muscles can often suffer from strains and tears as these muscles are forced to take the stress caused from quick and powerful twisting motions.

Groin (Adductor) Injuries

Groin (Adductor) injuries occur when any one of the 5 adductor muscles are torn or ruptured causing pain and tightness.

Groin Pain

Groin Pain typically causes swelling, bruising, and pain of the inner thigh muscles due to fatigue or a repetitive forceful twisting motion.

Groin Pull

Groin Pulls range from a minor stretch to a complete rupture of the adductor brevis, magnus and longus muscle groups.

Hip Pointer

Hip Pointers produce bruising, tenderness, and swelling of the illiac crest (hip bone) or the greater trochanter (top of the thigh bone).

Hip Replacement

Hip Replacement occurs most often in individuals who suffer from a severely broken hip, bone tumor, or advanced osteoarthritis.

Joint Noise, Pops and Cracks

Joint Noise, Pops and Cracks commomly occur in the ankles, back, knees, knuckles, and neck when the joint is engaged in movement.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is defined as the piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve and is located inside the the pelvis.

Sports Hernia

Sports Hernia occurs in the inguinal canal area of the lower abdominal wall and is usually caused by repetitive twisting motions.