Physical Examination of the Hip. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wichman, Daniel; Rasio, Jonathan P.; Looney, Austin; Nho, Shane J.
• Is Part Of: Sports health. Volume 13:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 149
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: hip pain -- femoroacetabular impingement syndrome -- hip physical examination -- hip joint; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- Periodicals; Physical Education and Training -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1177/1941738120953418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1941-7381

Abstract

The hip and pelvis have a complex anatomy and are a common source of pain and injury in the athletic population. The clinical examination of the hip requires a systematic approach to differentially diagnose hip problems with overlapping pain referral patterns. Because of the complex anatomy of the hip, the physical examination is a comprehensive evaluation of the 4 main pain generators of the hip from deep to superficial: the osteochondral, capsulolabral, musculotendinous, and neurovascular elements of the hip. The hip examination begins with the standing examination and gait analysis followed by a seated, supine, lateral, and prone examination. A targeted physical examination used in conjunction with a layered understanding of the hip and pelvis can help guide diagnostic testing, distinguish hip-specific diagnoses from similar presenting pathologies, and inform treatment.