The hip labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the outside of the hip socket, or the acetabulum, in your hip joint. You can think of it like a rubber seal around the rim of a cup. It helps keep the ball of the thighbone snug in the socket. The hip labrum helps keep the hip joint stable, allowing for smooth movement and protecting the bones from wear and tear. Without the labrum, your hip joint wouldn’t be able to move as smoothly. If this essential part of your hip becomes torn, you may feel pain or discomfort, which can affect your quality of life depending on the severity. 

What are the symptoms of a hip labrum tear?

A hip labrum tear is a tear to this essential ring of cartilage in your hip. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the location and severity of the tear:

• Hip pain — One of the most noticeable symptoms of a hip labrum tear is pain in the hip, buttock or groin area. This pain may get worse with physical activities like running, jumping, climbing stairs or even sitting for a long period of time. 
• Stiffness — You may experience stiffness in your hip joint, which can limit your range of motion. This can make it hard to bend, twist or stretch comfortably. 
• Clicking or popping sensation — You may have a noticeable clicking or popping sound when you move your hip, especially during certain movements like squatting or twisting. 
• Locking — In some cases, your hip may feel like it locks in certain positions, making it hard to move. 
• Pain at night — Discomfort may arise while you’re sleeping, especially when you sleep on the affected side. 
• Instability or weakness — In more severe cases, a torn labrum can make your hip joint feel unstable, like it may give out or slip when you put weight on it. This can make it hard to walk, stand, or do other activities that require balance and strength. 
• Pain during certain movements — Labral tears can cause pain with specific movements, especially those that involve twisting or rotating the hip — for example:
• Turning to get out of a car
• Bending down
• Rolling over in bed 

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with a health care provider, like a doctor or physical therapist, for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further damage and improve your quality of life. 

Causes of a hip labrum tear

A hip labrum tear can happen for a few different reasons, including:

• Femoroacetabular impingement — This condition occurs when the bones of the hip joint don’t fit together properly. This causes the bones to rub against each other and damage the labrum. 
• Hip dysplasia — This condition, where the hip joint doesn’t develop properly, can put extra stress on the labrum, leading to tears. 
• Trauma — A sudden impact, such as a fall or car accident, can cause a labral tear.
• Repetitive stress — Repetitive motions, especially in sports like running, dancing or soccer, can put strain on the hip joint and lead to a hip labrum tear. 
• Degenerative changes — Over time, the wear and tear of the hip joint can contribute to labral tears, especially in older individuals.

Locations of a hip labrum tear include:

• Anterior hip labral tear — This is the most common type of hip labrum tear and occurs in the front of the hip joint. 
• Posterior hip labrum tear — This type of hip labrum tear occurs in the back of the hip joint. 

Understanding the cause and location of a hip labrum tear can help in finding the right treatment. Whether it’s the result of sports, repetitive motions or age-related wear, a doctor or physical therapist can provide options to help heal the tear and prevent further damage. 

How is a hip labrum tear diagnosed?

Diagnosing a hip labrum tear starts with a medical professional understanding your symptoms and doing a few tests to see exactly what’s going on inside your hip joint. Here’s how your doctor can figure out if you’ve torn your hip labrum:

• Physical exam — Your doctor will likely start by asking about your symptoms, like when you feel pain, where it hurts and what movements make it worse. They’ll also do a physical exam to see how your hip moves and to check for areas of tenderness or stiffness. They may gently move your leg and hip around to see if certain positions trigger pain or discomfort. Testing the strength of your hip and leg muscles can also help show them if there’s an issue with your labrum. 
• X-rays — While an X-ray won’t show the labrum itself, it can help rule out other possible causes of hip pain, like a bone issue or arthritis. An X-ray is useful for seeing the overall structure of your hip joint and any bone abnormalities that may contribute to a labrum tear. 
• MRI — This test gives a detailed look at the soft tissue in the hip, like the labrum. For a clearer image, your doctor may use a special MRI called an MRI arthrogram. During an MRI arthrogram, a dye is injected into the hip joint, which helps highlight the labrum so the doctor can see if there’s a tear and how big it is.

Diagnosing a labrum tear isn’t always simple, but with these tests, your doctor can usually get a clear picture. Once they confirm a tear, they can work with you to determine the best way to treat it and help you get back to feeling more comfortable and active.

Can a hip labrum tear heal on its own?

Unfortunately, a hip labrum tear doesn’t heal on its own. The cartilage of the labrum doesn’t have a rich blood supply, which is essential for healing. Surgery is the only way to repair a torn hip labrum. However, if you’re not experiencing severe symptoms, you can manage symptoms if they’re not having a significant impact on your daily life. 

Hip labrum tear treatment options

Treatment for a hip labrum tear will depend on the severity of your tear, your age and your activity level. Treatment options for a hip labrum tear include:

• Rest and activity modification — Limiting activities that aggravate your affected hip joint, such as running or high-impact sports, give your hip the time it needs to recover from the irritation or from making your injury worse. 
• Cold therapy — Applying ice packs to the affected area can help reduce pain and inflammation. Cold therapy can be helpful right after activities that may strain the hip or make the inflammation worse. Be sure to place a cloth between your skin and the ice pack to avoid skin damage. 
• Physical therapy — A physical therapist can create a personalized treatment plan designed around your specific needs and concerns using effective techniques. This treatment plan may include therapeutic exercises such as range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, core strengthening exercises, and balance and coordination exercises. These exercises are designed to help strengthen the muscles around the hip, improve flexibility and reduce pain. Additional techniques your physical therapist may incorporate into your treatment plan include manual therapy, aquatic therapy and functional training. 
• Medications — Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce inflammation and manage pain. If needed, your doctor may prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory medications to help you stay more comfortable. 
• Corticosteroid injection — A corticosteroid injection directly into your affected hip joint can provide you with temporary relief from pain and inflammation, especially if physical therapy and medications aren’t enough on their own. However, corticosteroid injections are used sparingly due to potential side effects. 
• Surgical treatments — If nonsurgical treatments fail to relieve symptoms, surgery may be recommended. Types of surgical treatments for a hip labrum tear include:
• Labrum repair — Surgery for a labrum repair reattaches the torn part of the labrum to the hip joint 
• Labrum reconstruction — During reconstruction surgery, the labrum is rebuilt using tissue from another part of your body (or a donor’s), if a large section is torn. 
• Labrum removal — The removal, or debridement, of the labrum removes the damaged part of the labrum to help reduce pain and improve joint function. 

Each person’s treatment will vary based on their specific needs, lifestyle and recovery goals. Many people with a hip labrum tear recover well and get back to doing the activities they love. 

Let Lattimore PT be your partner for your hip recovery to help you feel and move better

At Lattimore Physical Therapy, we understand the challenges dealing with a hip labrum tear can bring, from discomfort to limits on your daily activities. Our team of experienced physical therapists is dedicated to providing you with a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs, using a mix of therapeutic exercises, pain management techniques and advanced recovery tools. We aim to help you regain strength, reduce pain and improve mobility so you can return to the activities you love. 

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.