Strains of the Hip

The large bones that make up the hip joint also serve as anchors for several muscles. Some of these muscles move down the thigh to the knee. Other muscles move across the abdomen or the buttocks. When overuse or injury stretches or tears the muscle fibers, the resulting injury is called a strain.

Cause

Muscle strains frequently occur in the hip area when a stretched muscle is forced to contract suddenly. A fall or direct blow to the muscle (called a contusion), overstretching, and overuse can tear muscle fibers, resulting in a strain. The risk of muscle strain increases if you had a prior injury in the area, if you do not warm up properly before exercising, or if you attempt to do too much too quickly. Strains may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the injury.

Symptoms

  • Pain over the injured muscle is the most common symptom of a hip strain.
  • Using the muscle aggravates the pain.
  • Swelling may also be present, depending on the severity of the strain.
  • There may be a loss of strength in the muscle.

Conditions

  • Arthritis of the Hip
  • Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
  • Bursitis of the Hip
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Femur Shaft Fracture
  • Hip Fracture
  • Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
  • Gluteus Medius Tear
  • Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip
  • Labral Tear of the Hip
  • Loose Bodies of the Hip
  • Muscle Strains of the Thigh
  • Snapping Hip
  • Strains of the Hip
  • Synovitis
  • Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip

Treatments

  • Bone Grafting of the Hip
  • Core Decompression of the Hip
  • Direct Anterior Hip Replacement
  • Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery
  • Hip Arthroscopy
  • Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
  • Posterior Total Hip Replacement – VERILAST
  • Revision Total Hip Replacement
  • Total Hip Replacement Surgery – VERILAST

Conservative Treatments

The Orthopedic physicians at Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic provide conservative treatment options for Hip conditions and injuries.

Diagnosis

Physical Examination & Patient History

During your first visit, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and medical history. During the physical examination, your doctor will check all the structures of your injury, and compare them to your non-injured anatomy.  Most injuries can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination.

Imaging Tests

Imaging Tests Other tests which may help your doctor confirm your diagnosis include:

X-rays. Although they will not show any injury, x-rays can show whether the injury is associated with a broken bone.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. If your injury requires an MRI, this study is utilized to create a better image of soft tissues injuries. However, an MRI may not be required for your particular injury circumstance and will be ordered based on a thorough examination by your Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic Orthopedic physician.

Treatment Options

Non-Surgical

In general, treatment and rehabilitation are designed to relieve pain, restore range of motion, and restore strength—in that order.

RICE is the standard treatment protocol for mild to moderate muscle strains.

Rest. Avoid putting weight on the hip. Your doctor may suggest using crutches for the first day or two after the injury.
Ice. Gently massage the area with ice to help decrease swelling.
Compression. Compression shorts or a wrap bandage may be helpful.
Elevation.

Your Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic orthopaedic physician may also recommend aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce swelling and ease pain.

After the first couple of days, your doctor may suggest heat therapy, including hot soaks, heat lamps, or heating pads.

Avoid the activity that caused the strain for 10 to 14 days. During that time, you can rebuild muscle strength and endurance with stretching and strengthening exercises.

If the pain returns, stop and go back to easier activities that do not cause pain. Severe muscle strains may require a longer rehabilitation time.

Conservative Treatment Options

  • Non-Operative Hip Injury Treatments

Dr. Robert Detch ~ Orthopedic Surgeon

““I am dedicated to improving the lives of my patients and their families. With every orthopedic consult comes the opportunity to restore the important activities in the lives of my patients. Restoring a patient’s musculoskeletal function has such a powerful and dramatic affect on their lives. What I find especially rewarding are the most challenging cases, and especially when patients feel their lives will never be the same and through surgical care, I can give them the life that they want back to them again. As an extension of my service in the US Navy, I am additionally fortunate to have the opportunity to train Orthopaedic Residents in the Operating Room and treat injured and wounded veterans at our local Bay Area ~ VA Palo Alto and VA San Francisco Medical Centers. Remaining active in the restoring of daily activities in the lives of our wounded service members is one of the core focuses of my practice.”

Dr. Robert Detch is a board-certified, orthopedic surgeon specializing in Innovative Treatments for Knee & Hip Replacement procedures.

Treatment Highlights

VERILAST Hip Replacement Technology

Innovative Implant Design

Smith Nephew VERILAST hip replacement implant.

It’s important to remember that not every hip implant is the same. The Smith Nephew VERILAST Hip Technology is the one technology that directly addresses two of the most commonly cited concerns associated with hip replacement implants:

  • Implant Wear

  • Implant Fracture

Learn More

Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic

The Orthopaedic physicians at Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic provide comprehensive services to all members of the family.
Make An Appointment

Disclaimer

The information found on this site is for general orthopedic purposes only. In a medical emergency please dial 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Room.