Posted on October 31 2023
Hip labral tears can cause significant discomfort and affect one's daily activities. While surgery is sometimes necessary, there are effective non-surgical methods that can help manage hip labral tears. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best non-surgical treatment options and provide insights on exercises and activities to avoid during the recovery process.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options:
Physical Therapy:
Pain Management:
Utilizing cold therapy in an easy to use form such as a Hip Ice Wrap along with over-the-counter non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, health care professionals may recommend a corticosteroid injection to alleviate symptoms if they are affecting every day life activities. Remember these things manage pain and they do not make a labral tear magically disappear.
Modified Activity
It's important to avoid the activities and positions that worsen symptoms and strain on the hip joint. Seems logical, but as humans we have a hard time shutting it down when we need it most. Impactful activities such as running, jumping, skating and lifting heavy should all be avoided. Try and minimize activities that require repeated hip flexion, hip rotation or excessive hip stretching.
Hip Support
Consider proper athletic taping to provide a bit of soft tissue support and limit excessive movement. I've personally yet to find good support in hip compression shorts, predesigned hip braces or other hip support related gizzmos that are better than a good athletic trainer tape job.
Aquatic Physical Therapy
Water-based exercise can improve mobility, strength, and keep fitness and psychological levels up during a time of recovery. Im a big fan of aquatic therapy for the hip. You are able to hit all planes of motion and really control impact (percentage of weight bearing) to exact needs of patient. If you can find a pool that has varied depths (shallow to deep) this is a huge help in hip rehabilitation.
Activities To Avoid
As we touched upon above, high impact sports and activities are typically a no-go. Sudden directional changes and impact on the hip joint will be quick to flare things up and increase pain. Avoid deep squatting, deep lunges or excessive hip flexion. These will all aggravate a hip labral tear. Avoid overstretching especially in positions of discomfort. Listen to your body.
Conclusion
While surgery may be the final option to "fix", when possible, explore the various non-surgical alternatives that have been known to be effective in managing hip labral discomfort. Physical therapy, pain management, and modified activity can aid in the healing process and buy you more time. However, it is crucial to always consult a trusted healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and to develop a tailored treatment plan that suits your needs.