A specific type of hip condition could increase the chances of athletes suffering from a sports hernia, new
research has indicated.
According to a team from the University of Virginia's Department of
Orthopaedics, Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) could contribute to the
injury, which is a common source of groin pain among sportsmen and women.
Lead author of the study Kostas Economopoulos, presenting the findings to the
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) at its annual meeting,
said he hopes the results will prompt physicians examining athletes to
"further investigate the possibility of FAI" when they come across
sports hernia and groin injuries.
"Our study illustrated that those patients with FAI tend to have a change
in hip biomechanics which in turn leads to increased stress across the
groin," he explained, adding the stress increases the chance of the
oblique abdominal muscles tearing.
Also attending the AOSSM meeting were researchers from the Steadman Philippon
Research Institute, who revealed an improved surgical technique could repair
hypoplastic or labrum tears in the hip, allowing athletes to perform at a
similar level as before they were injured.
© Adfero Ltd
Hip surgery news : 17 July 2012
