Experiencing persistent hip pain? You’re not alone.
Hip labral tears affect millions of people, accounting for half of all hip pain cases. At New York Bone & Joint Specialists, our top-rated hip specialists offer comprehensive treatment options—from conservative care to advanced surgical techniques—helping you return to the activities you love.
Let’s explore how this common condition occurs and how we can help you start your recovery journey.
What is a Hip Labral Tear?
A hip labral tear occurs within the labrum, a tough sheath of cartilage hugging the socket, or acetabulum, of the joint. Fitted into the socket is the ball, or the femoral head, which connects the femur bone to the pelvis, giving the joint its ability to move in different directions.
The hip labrum stabilizes and lubricates the hip socket while also acting as a shock absorber during hip movement. The labrum prevents the bones of the hip joint from rubbing against each other and causing pain.
A hip labral tear can result from:
Sports. A hip dislocation or other injury while playing contact sports, such as football and hockey.
Accident. The labrum may be torn as a result of a car accident or other trauma to the hip.
Repetitive motions. Athletes or individuals who perform repetitive hip movements.
Aging. Older individuals are at risk because of the wear and tear of the labrum cartilage over time.
Structural abnormalities. Some people are born with an abnormality in the hip joint known as a femoroacetabular impingement, a deformity that leads to friction between the ball and socket.
Types of hip labral tears
Hip labral tears are classified based on the location.
Anterior hip labral tears. The most common type, the tear develops in the front of the hip joint, usually the result of repetitive motions.
Posterior hip labral tears. The tear is centered in the back of the hip joint and typically occurs after a trauma, such as a fall, accident, or injury while playing sports.
Complex. In some cases, other conditions may be present. For instance, arthritis can cause the labrum cartilage to wear down, leading to a tear. In addition to a tear, the ball and socket may be ill-fitted and can cause friction.
Hip Labral Tear Symptoms
A labral tear may not produce symptoms in everyone. Yet common labral hip symptoms include:
- Pain. A constant dull ache in the hip joint. The pain may also radiate to the groin or buttocks.
- Changes in pain patterns. The pain intensifies after long periods of standing, sitting, walking, or exercising. You may feel a sharp, stabbing pain if you change positions, such as if you lie on the affected side of the hip or twist the hip abruptly when exercising.
- Limited mobility. The hip becomes stiff and restricts your ability to move. This may cause you to change your posture, which could worsen the hip pain. You may feel unsteady on your feet or limp.
- Clicking or locking sensations. The hip may produce a clicking sound or lock up when you move the joint.
Labral tear symptoms can be minor and resolve with rest and pain medications. If your pain doesn’t go away or your mobility doesn’t improve in a few weeks, you should see a hip specialist for diagnosis and treatment to prevent the pain from increasing.
“Hip labral tears can cause persistent groin pain and clicking that interferes with everything from walking to sleeping. Our arthroscopic repair techniques can restore the smooth function of your hip joint and eliminate that nagging discomfort.” – Dr. Leon Popovitz, MD, Co-Founder of New York Bone & Joint.
Hip Labral Tear Tests and Diagnosis: How We Diagnose Tears
Labral hip tears can be difficult to diagnose accurately because the hip is surrounded by muscles and other structures.
During your first appointment, one of our hip specialists will:
Perform a physical exam. We’ll begin by asking when the symptoms began, where the pain is centered, and when you feel it. Our specialists may also check your range of motion by having you move your leg, walk, and perform some basic stretches.
Hip labral tear test methods:
FADIR test. FADIR stands for flexion, adduction, and internal rotation. It’s a passive motion test to help diagnose hip impingement.
- First, you’ll lie on your back, with your legs straight and relaxed.
- Next, the doctor moves the affected leg so that your knee and hip are bent at 90 degrees.
- Then, the doctor gently pushes your entire leg across the midline of your body (adduction), while supporting your knee and ankle.
- Finally, the doctor moves your foot and lower calf away from your body (abduction) as your knee maintains its position. This is the time most patients feel pain.
FABER test. The FABER (flexion, abduction, external rotation) test is also a passive motion test to determine hip pathology.
- You’ll lie supine on the examination table.
- You’ll place the foot of the leg of the affected hip on the opposite knee, creating a “figure-four” arrangement.
- You’ll place one hand to stabilize the pelvis on the opposite side to prevent any movement.
- The doctor will apply gentle downward pressure on the knee of the leg of the painful hip while stabilizing the pelvis. Pain in the groin area during this test suggests a hip labral tear or osteoarthritis.
Imaging studies
Your doctor may order imaging tests to confirm a labral tear diagnosis.
X-rays. An X-ray can rule out other conditions, such as arthritis or a structural defect.
MRI. An MRI provides a clearer look at the labrum and hip joint. To get a more precise picture of the labral tear, your doctor may inject a dye during the MRI.
Anesthetic injection. Your doctor injects an anesthetic into the hip joint. A reduction in pain after the injection means the problem is likely within the hip joint and labrum.
Hip Labral Tear Recovery Without Surgery
Most hip labral tears respond favorably to conservative treatment without surgery. The goal of conservative treatments is to manage the pain of a hip labral tear and encourage a full range of motion in the hip.
Conservative treatment might look like:
- Rest and activity modification. Avoid activities that require repeated hip rotations (golfing, dancing, and baseball).
- Physical therapy and targeted exercises. Strengthening exercises targeting the leg, thigh, and buttocks muscles lessen the stress on the hip.
- Anti-inflammatory medications. Ease the pain and inflammation of the labral tear with over-the-counter medications, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen. If those don’t work, your doctor can prescribe a stronger pain reliever.
- Corticosteroid injections. A corticosteroid injection directly into the hip joint reduces inflammation and can immediately reduce pain. Corticosteroid injections are limited to no more than three per year.
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy. After extracting platelets (the blood clotting factor) from the patient’s blood, the resulting solution is injected into the hip joint, stimulating regrowth of the labrum tissue.
A labral hip tear won’t heal by itself, but fortunately, most cases respond well to conservative treatment. With a combination of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, pain from most labral hip tears should dissipate within several weeks.
Hip Labral Tear Exercises
A physical therapist will work with you in coming up with a program of hip labral tear exercises you can perform at home.
Safe exercises for labral tear recovery:
Gentle range of motion exercises. Exercises specifically designed to relieve the tightness of the muscles of the lower back, buttocks, pelvis, hip, and thigh can increase range of motion.
Hip strengthening exercises. Strengthening those same muscles of the core provides added support for the hip joint.
Low-impact cardiovascular activities. When exercising, you want to relieve stress on the hip joint as much as possible while also getting a good cardio workout. Try walking, swimming, and stationary biking.
Physical therapy protocols. Physical therapy can begin soon after diagnosis. Your physical therapy will guide you through the process in stages. For example, you can begin strength training while lying down before doing it while standing.
Hip labral tear exercises to avoid. Avoid any activity that involves repeated hip bending, deep hip stretches, or excessive hip rotation. High-impact activities such as basketball, soccer, or tennis are not recommended while recovering from a hip labral tear. Don’t lunge or extend your leg straight out behind you.
Surgical Treatment Options
Although conservative treatment is the preferred option for hip labral tears, surgery may be advisable in several circumstances:
- Conservative treatment fails to bring significant pain relief.
- The hip has structural issues, such as a femoroacetabular impingement, that can be addressed by surgery.
- The hip constantly locks up and clicks.
- Severe functional restrictions that limit a person’s ability to move and do everyday tasks.
Fortunately, if you need surgery, you can find the best hip labral tear surgeons at New York Bone & Joint Specialists. One of our hip specialists will discuss surgical options with you.
Surgical procedures include:
Hip arthroscopy for labral repair. In this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon enters the hip joint through a small incision. He or she then reattaches the torn labrum with small plastic or metal “anchors” into the joint socket, thereby sealing the labrum to the hip joint and improving hip function.
After this outpatient surgery, you can leave the hospital, but you’ll walk on crutches for two to three weeks during your hip labral tear recovery.
Labral reconstruction. If the damage to the labrum is severe, a labral reconstruction may be necessary. Done arthroscopically, the surgeon trims the damaged labrum tissue and attaches healthy tissue obtained from the patient or a donor bank to the acetabulum. Recovery depends on the severity of the tear. Your doctor will monitor your progress and recommend a physical therapy program.
Hip preservation techniques. The above arthroscopic procedures preserve most of the hip structure and prevent further degeneration of the hip cartilage. If needed, the surgeon may reshape the hip bones to make the ball and socket fit together and move smoothly.
Why Choose New York Bone and Joint Specialists as your labral hip tear doctors
New York Bone and Joint Specialists are counted among New York’s best hip doctors and surgeons. For decades, patients have trusted our expertise in convenient locations around New York City. Here’s why:
- We prioritize the health and healing of your joints, tendons, muscles, and cartilage, essential for a long and active life.
- In over 90% of cases, our orthopedic treatments successfully resolve issues without the need for surgery.
- We employ a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physical therapists, and pain management specialists to ensure a successful outcome.
- We accept a wide variety of insurance plans, and we work with your patients on payment plans that fit into their budget.
- We have multiple New York City locations for convenient care.
Our Hip Labral Tear Specialists include:
At New York Bone & Joint Specialists, our in-house hip specialists are nationally recognized for their extensive accreditations, knowledge, published articles in medical journals, and are readily available for consultations.
- Board-certified hip and sports medicine specialists.
- Orthopedists fellowship trained in hip preservation.
- Physicians with experience with both surgical and non-surgical treatments.
- Our doctors have received national recognition in hip labral tear treatment.
Make an appointment today
Start your recovery today. Book your appointment with New York Bone & Joint Specialists now.
Frequently Asked Questions: Labral Tear in Hip
How do I know if I have a hip labral tear?
A dull pain in the hip, which intensifies after sitting or exercising for a long period, or a sharp pain if you change your hip position, indicates a labral tear. You may hear a clicking sound in the hip, and your hip movement is restricted. If these symptoms continue for weeks, you should seek a medical evaluation.
Can a labral tear heal without surgery?
Many hip labral tears heal successfully with conservative treatment, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modification. Surgery is only recommended when conservative methods don’t provide adequate relief.
What are the best exercises for hip labral tear recovery?
Gentle stretches of the muscles surrounding the hip can improve range of motion. To provide extra support to the hip joint, focus on strengthening the core muscles of the thighs, buttocks, lower back, and pelvis. Always consult with a physical therapist before starting an exercise program. He or she can show how to do the exercises safely.
How long does hip labral tear recovery take without surgery?
Avoiding activities that stress the hip, following a physical therapy program, and taking pain medications can bring relief in a matter of weeks. But much depends on the severity of the tear.
What exercises should I avoid with a hip labral tear?
High-impact exercises such as basketball, soccer, and hockey should be avoided. Any activity that requires repeated hip rotations, such as dancing, is also not recommended. They add pressure on the hip joint.
