0
item(s)
Cart is empty
|
Home
::
|
Hip Groin Injuries Information
Hip and Groin Pain/Injuries
The hip is the area of the body that extends from the waist, across the pelvis, and to the top of each thigh. The groin, or inner thigh, is the area that connects the top of the inner thigh to the abdomen. Both of these areas are common sites of injury during sport-related activities.
Anatomy Of The Hip and Groin
The hip is formed by the femur and the three pelvic bones - the ilium, the pubis, and the ischium. The three pelvic bones converge to form a deep socket on the outer edge of the pelvis, known as the acetabulum. The hip joint allows motions like climbing stairs, squatting, running, and walking. The ball-and-socket hip joint is formed by the femoral head of the femur (the ball) and the acetabulum (the socket). A large bump, called the greater trochanter, is a frequent anatomical reference point and can be felt jutting outward from the top of the femur. The greater trochanter is the connection point for many large muscles and tendons, such as the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and piriformis.
Articular cartilage is a shiny, white, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones within the hip joint. It allows the structures within the joint to smoothly slide against each other without friction and helps to absorb shock.
The hip joint is reinforced by five ligaments that connect bone to bone- the iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, pub femoral, ligamentum teres, and zona orbicularis. The iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments form a dense capsule around the joint.
The iliotibial band is a long tendon that runs from the hip to the knee alongside the femur.
The muscles of the hip power a number of movements. Lateral or external rotation is powered by the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, quadratus femoris, obturator internus, iliopsoas, obturator externus, adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor minimus, piriformis, and sartorius. Medial or internal rotation is powered by the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fascia latae, adductor magnus, and pectineus. Extension or flexion is powered by the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, adductor magnus, biceps, piriformis, iliopsoas, tensor fascia latae, and adductors. Abduction or adduction is mainly powered by the gluteals and adductors. Note that many muscles are part of several different movements. This is because the different areas of some the muscles independently perform different functions and many muscles act differently in relation to the position of the hip joint.
Bursae are thin lubricating sacs that serve to reduce friction between muscles, tendons, and bones, usually near the hip joint. The main bursa in the hip are the trochanteric bursa, iliopsoas bursa, and a bursa located just over the ischial tuberosity.
The groin is also referred to as the inner thigh or medial compartment of the thigh. Loosely, it’s the inner leg area that’s aside the pubic area and meets the bottom of the abdomen. The groin is highly connected to the hip since the muscles of the thigh, called the adductor muscles, help rotate the hip inwardly and bring the legs together. These muscles include the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. Each muscle, with the exception of the gracilis that attaches to the tibia, has a tendon that connects it to the femur. The muscles and tendons of the groin are extensively used during sprinting, jumping, hurdling, and quick changes in movement direction.
What Causes Hip And Groin Pain?
Hip and groin pain can be caused by radiating pain from an injured structure outside the hip or groin area, such as hip pain caused by a lower back injury or groin pain caused by a sportsman's hernia. However, groin and hip pain is often caused by an injury to one of the bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments within the groin or hip. These injuries can occur during sport-related activities, slips and falls, vehicle accidents, workplace accidents; from athletic over-training or repetitive stress; or from a degenerative process.
What Are Some Common Hip And Groin Injuries?
Hip Pointer Injury
This injury is most often associated with a direct blow over either the greater trochanter or iliac crest. It commonly occurs in full contact sports like football and rugby. The blow causes a bone contusion to the greater trochanter or iliac crest. A bone contusion is a deep bruise that penetrates the bone tissue. If the impact is hard enough, the blow can possibly cause an avulsion fracture, which is when the muscle literally pulls a small section of bone away from its main bone. The force of the impact also tears the capillaries in the area and results in bleeding into the soft tissues around the front and side of the hip. There will be apparent inflammation, bruising, pain, tenderness, and reduced hip range of motion.
Hip Bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa is called bursitis. The bursae in the hip most often affected by bursitis are the trochanteric bursa and the ischial bursa. While bursitis may occur following either an open wound over the bursa that becomes infected and seeps into the sac or crystal deposits from gout, the inflammation is most often the result of direct injury or irritation to the bursa. Trochanteric bursitis produces a dull burning pain and stiffness on the outer hip and can make side-lying positions very uncomfortable. Ischial bursitis causes a dull burning pain between the ischial tuberosity and the gluteus muscle, which may radiate down the back of the thigh. This type of bursitis is often caused by prolonged sitting on hard surfaces or in the same position, as this compresses the bursa and irritates it.
Groin Strains / Pulled Groin
A groin strain, also called a pulled groin, is an injury to the adductor muscles and/or their tendons. Strains are by far the most common groin injuries. It occurs when the muscle or tendon is abnormally stretched or torn. The mechanism of injury is often associated with sudden changes in direction, such as in sprinting, or quick movements that meet an opposing resistance, such as when a kick is blocked in football. Groin strains can also occur due to repetitive stress or traumatic injuries to the groin. Strains are graded one through three based on the degree of muscle/tendon fibers injured. A grade one strain involves the stretching or microscopic tearing of fibers, but doesn’t limit the function of the tissue. A grade two strain involves more moderate tearing and function limitation. A grade three strain consists of more than 90% of the fibers being torn and severely limit’s the function of the muscle/tendon unit.
Anatomy Of The Hip and Groin
The hip is formed by the femur and the three pelvic bones - the ilium, the pubis, and the ischium. The three pelvic bones converge to form a deep socket on the outer edge of the pelvis, known as the acetabulum. The hip joint allows motions like climbing stairs, squatting, running, and walking. The ball-and-socket hip joint is formed by the femoral head of the femur (the ball) and the acetabulum (the socket). A large bump, called the greater trochanter, is a frequent anatomical reference point and can be felt jutting outward from the top of the femur. The greater trochanter is the connection point for many large muscles and tendons, such as the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and piriformis.
Articular cartilage is a shiny, white, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones within the hip joint. It allows the structures within the joint to smoothly slide against each other without friction and helps to absorb shock.
The hip joint is reinforced by five ligaments that connect bone to bone- the iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, pub femoral, ligamentum teres, and zona orbicularis. The iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments form a dense capsule around the joint.
The iliotibial band is a long tendon that runs from the hip to the knee alongside the femur.
The muscles of the hip power a number of movements. Lateral or external rotation is powered by the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, quadratus femoris, obturator internus, iliopsoas, obturator externus, adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor minimus, piriformis, and sartorius. Medial or internal rotation is powered by the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fascia latae, adductor magnus, and pectineus. Extension or flexion is powered by the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, adductor magnus, biceps, piriformis, iliopsoas, tensor fascia latae, and adductors. Abduction or adduction is mainly powered by the gluteals and adductors. Note that many muscles are part of several different movements. This is because the different areas of some the muscles independently perform different functions and many muscles act differently in relation to the position of the hip joint.
Bursae are thin lubricating sacs that serve to reduce friction between muscles, tendons, and bones, usually near the hip joint. The main bursa in the hip are the trochanteric bursa, iliopsoas bursa, and a bursa located just over the ischial tuberosity.
The groin is also referred to as the inner thigh or medial compartment of the thigh. Loosely, it’s the inner leg area that’s aside the pubic area and meets the bottom of the abdomen. The groin is highly connected to the hip since the muscles of the thigh, called the adductor muscles, help rotate the hip inwardly and bring the legs together. These muscles include the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. Each muscle, with the exception of the gracilis that attaches to the tibia, has a tendon that connects it to the femur. The muscles and tendons of the groin are extensively used during sprinting, jumping, hurdling, and quick changes in movement direction.
What Causes Hip And Groin Pain?
Hip and groin pain can be caused by radiating pain from an injured structure outside the hip or groin area, such as hip pain caused by a lower back injury or groin pain caused by a sportsman's hernia. However, groin and hip pain is often caused by an injury to one of the bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments within the groin or hip. These injuries can occur during sport-related activities, slips and falls, vehicle accidents, workplace accidents; from athletic over-training or repetitive stress; or from a degenerative process.
What Are Some Common Hip And Groin Injuries?
Hip Pointer Injury
This injury is most often associated with a direct blow over either the greater trochanter or iliac crest. It commonly occurs in full contact sports like football and rugby. The blow causes a bone contusion to the greater trochanter or iliac crest. A bone contusion is a deep bruise that penetrates the bone tissue. If the impact is hard enough, the blow can possibly cause an avulsion fracture, which is when the muscle literally pulls a small section of bone away from its main bone. The force of the impact also tears the capillaries in the area and results in bleeding into the soft tissues around the front and side of the hip. There will be apparent inflammation, bruising, pain, tenderness, and reduced hip range of motion.
Hip Bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa is called bursitis. The bursae in the hip most often affected by bursitis are the trochanteric bursa and the ischial bursa. While bursitis may occur following either an open wound over the bursa that becomes infected and seeps into the sac or crystal deposits from gout, the inflammation is most often the result of direct injury or irritation to the bursa. Trochanteric bursitis produces a dull burning pain and stiffness on the outer hip and can make side-lying positions very uncomfortable. Ischial bursitis causes a dull burning pain between the ischial tuberosity and the gluteus muscle, which may radiate down the back of the thigh. This type of bursitis is often caused by prolonged sitting on hard surfaces or in the same position, as this compresses the bursa and irritates it.
Groin Strains / Pulled Groin
A groin strain, also called a pulled groin, is an injury to the adductor muscles and/or their tendons. Strains are by far the most common groin injuries. It occurs when the muscle or tendon is abnormally stretched or torn. The mechanism of injury is often associated with sudden changes in direction, such as in sprinting, or quick movements that meet an opposing resistance, such as when a kick is blocked in football. Groin strains can also occur due to repetitive stress or traumatic injuries to the groin. Strains are graded one through three based on the degree of muscle/tendon fibers injured. A grade one strain involves the stretching or microscopic tearing of fibers, but doesn’t limit the function of the tissue. A grade two strain involves more moderate tearing and function limitation. A grade three strain consists of more than 90% of the fibers being torn and severely limit’s the function of the muscle/tendon unit.