Hip Labral Tear in Mona Vale
A hip labral tear can cause pain around the groin or front of the hip, sometimes accompanied by clicking, catching or stiffness. Symptoms may develop following an injury or gradually through repetitive loading and can affect sitting, squatting, running, gym training and sport.
At Helix Recovery, we'll assess your hip movement, strength and function to determine how your symptoms are affecting you and develop a personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan.
What is a Hip Labral Tear?
The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the edge of the hip socket. It helps deepen the socket, contributes to hip stability and helps distribute forces through the joint.
Labral tears can develop following trauma, repetitive loading or alongside conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
Importantly, labral tears and changes are also found on imaging in people without hip pain. A tear seen on a scan therefore doesn't automatically mean it is responsible for your symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Pain around the groin or front of the hip
Deep pain within the hip
Clicking, catching or locking sensations
Pain with prolonged sitting
Pain during deep squatting
Discomfort with running or sport
Reduced or painful hip movement
Pain getting in or out of a car
How We Assess a Hip Labral Tear
Symptoms associated with a labral tear can overlap with other hip conditions, including FAI, hip osteoarthritis and surrounding tendon problems.
Your assessment may include hip movement, strength and functional testing, as well as movements that reproduce your symptoms. The lower back and surrounding structures may also be assessed where relevant.
If a significant labral injury is suspected or symptoms aren't improving as expected, imaging or specialist assessment may be recommended.
How We Treat a Hip Labral Tear
Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to.
Treatment may include:
Osteopathic manual therapy
Shockwave therapy
Progressive exercise rehabilitation
Hip and gluteal strengthening
Improving hip and lower-limb movement control
Activity and load modification
Gradual return to gym, running and sport
Shockwave Therapy for a Hip Labral Tear
Shockwave therapy does not repair a torn labrum. However, it may be incorporated into treatment where appropriate to help reduce pain and address sensitive muscles, tendons and other soft tissues surrounding the hip.
It can be used alongside osteopathic manual therapy and progressive exercise rehabilitation while rehabilitation focuses on improving hip strength, control and tolerance to activity.
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No. Many people with labral tears can be managed conservatively through progressive exercise rehabilitation, activity modification and symptom management. Surgery may be considered when significant symptoms persist despite appropriate conservative treatment.
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It can, but clicking doesn't necessarily mean the labrum is damaged. Clicking and snapping around the hip are also common in people without significant joint pathology.
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Not always. Imaging may be considered when the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms persist or the result would influence management. An MR arthrogram may sometimes be used when detailed assessment of the labrum is required.
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Often, yes. Activities or positions that significantly aggravate symptoms may initially need to be modified while hip strength and load tolerance are progressively developed.
Common Questions
Ready to Move More Comfortably?
A labral tear on a scan doesn't necessarily mean you need surgery or have to stop being active. We'll assess how your hip is functioning and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan tailored to your symptoms and goals.