Hip and pelvis injuries represent 2 to 5% of all sports injuries. Among these injuries, groin and upper thigh area pain is the most common finding. The most common sports related injuries in the hip pelvis, and thigh are musculotendinous in nature. Among the most notorious of these is iliopsoas tendinitis, also known as “hip flexor tendinitis.”
Although they assist in several different movements, the hip flexors are a group of skeletal muscles which contract in order to pull the knee upward or to bring the torso in closer proximity to the thighs. These muscles include the psoas major, psoas minor, and iliacus.
In basic terms, iliopsoas tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon or area surrounding the tendon which anchors the hip flexor muscles to the thigh bone. The two major causes of iliopsoas tendinitis are acute injury and overuse injury.
The acute injury often involves eccentric contraction of the iliopsoas muscle or rapid flexion against extension force/resistance. Less commonly, it may result from direct trauma. The overuse injury may occur in any activity resulting in repeated hip flexion or an external (outward) rotation of the thigh (femur). Activities that may predispose to an iliopsoas injury include dancing, ballet, weight training, rolling, running (particularly uphill), track and field, soccer, and gymnastics.
This injury is usually first noticed with a gradual onset of frontal hip or groin area pain. Sometimes there is some accompanying lower back pain. As with many cases of tendinitis, pain may initially be noticed after an aggravating activity, but may go away soon thereafter. This condition may progress to pain that persists during activity, but subsides with rest. It may further progress to pain thatpersists during activity and rest. As a result, many people delay professional evaluation/treatment of this injury, which almost guarantees, in many instances, that the condition will become chronic .
- These injuries commonly produce pain with specific sports related activities, such as jogging, running, or kicking. Pain with simple activities, such as putting on socks and shoes, rising from a seated position with the hips flexed for some time, walking upstairs or inclines, or brisk walking may be experienced.
- Pain may radiate down the anterior thigh toward the knee and may also be experienced in the lower back.
- Some people may experience an audible “snap” or “click”in the hip or groin area which may be associated with a condition known as “Internal Snapping Hip Syndrome.”
- Anterior knee pain consistent with patellar tendinitis or patellofemoral pain syndrome (“Runners Knee”) may also be the result of a tight iliopsoas muscle.
We have an answer for many that suffer with Hip Flexor Tendinitis, particularly chronic or recurrent cases.
Our office offers a distinctly successful protocol for many Hip Flexor Tendinitis sufferers that addresses most of the significant muscular/mechanical factors that are involved in this condition. In many cases, particularly those uncomplicated by advanced tendinosis or other co-existing medical issues, we often observe positive results in as soon as 3-5 treatment sessions. We invite those who are suffering with this injury to arrange a consultation with us to determine if our protocols might be right for you.
We are a Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation facility located in Walnut Creek, CA. Feel free to contact us with your questions or concerns at (925) 945-1155 or request an appointment.
