A hip labral tear is an injury to the soft elastic tissue around the hip joint called the labrum. The hip joint is made of a ball and socket. The ball is the end of the thigh bone, also called the femur. This ball fits into the bowl-shaped socket in the pelvic bone, also called the acetabulum. Cartilage lines the socket to keep movement smooth and the joint cushioned. The labrum helps to hold the ball of the femur in place. When the this tears, it is called a hip labral tear.

• Wear and tear of hip joint from different activities, such as golf or softball
• Traumatic injury to hip
• Twisting injuries
• Motor vehicle accident
• Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis
• Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI)
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis
• Slipped capital epiphysis
• Capsular laxity/hip hypermobility

• Hip pain: sharp, deep, disabling
• Locking or clicking of hip
• Hip instability
• Limited range of motion
• Tenderness to touch
• Groin, buttock, or thigh pain
• Pain during activity

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arthrography
• X-rays

1. Phase 1 of the protocol will consist of pain control, core stabilization, and range of motion.
2. Phase 2 focuses on muscle strengthening, returning normal movement patterns, and initiation of sensory motor training.
3. Phase 3 emphasizes advanced sensory motor training, with sport-specific and specific functional progression.  In addition, the physical therapist will provide specific education at each phase of the rehabilitation process and will work directly with the physician to achieve the goals.

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org

• Arthroscopy Association of North America

http://www.aana.org

• Canadian Orthopaedic Association

http://www.coa-aco.org

• Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation

http://www.canorth.org

• Bharam S, Philippon MJ. Diagnosis and management of acetabular labral tears in the athlete. International SportMed Journal. 2008;9(1):1-11.
• Burnett SJ, Della Rocca GJ, et al. Clinical presentation of patients with tears of the acetabular labrum. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2006;88:1448-1457.
• Hip Labral Tears. Arthorscopy Association of North America website. Available at: https://www.aana.org/VideoEducationLibrary/Articles/HipLabralTears/tabid/130/Default.aspx. Accessed May 6, 2013.
• Hunt DH, Clohisy J, et al. Acetabular Labral Tears of the Hip in Women. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America - Volume 18, Issue 3 (August 2007).
• O'Kane J. Anterior hip pain. Am Fam Physician. 1999 Oct 15;60(6):1687-1696. Available at:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/991015ap/1687.html Accessed May 6, 2013.