Hip and groin injuries in athletes

Although athletic injuries about the hip and groin occur less commonly than injuries in the extremities, they can result in extensive rehabilitation t ime. Thus, an accurate diagnosis and well-organized treatment plan are crit ical. Because loads of up to eight times body weight have been demonstrated in the hip joint during jogging, presumably even greater loads can occur d uring vigorous athletic competition. The available imaging modalities are e ffective diagnostic tools when selected on the basis of a thorough history and physical examination. Considerable controversy exists as to the cause a nd optimal treatment of groin pain in athletes, or the so-called "sports he rnia." There has also been significant recent attention focused on intraart icular lesions that may be amenable to hip arthroscopy. This article briefl y reviews several common hip and groin conditions affecting athletic patien ts and highlights some newer topics.