Editorial Commentary: More Evidence That Some Sports Are Harder on Hips Than Others

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is generally agreed to be one of the main causes of hip osteoarthritis later in life. There is a strong association between certain sports and hip arthroscopy with labral repair and osteochondroplasty for FAI. Some sports, such as ice hockey, soccer, and basketball, place substantial mechanical demands on the hip, thus causing more hip injuries in athletes who participate in them. Sports medicine physicians caring for athletes playing “hip-intense” sports should have a low index of suspicion for FAI, even if the initial injury is described only as a groin strain. In addition, evidence is accumulating that sports-related pressure on the femoral physis during closure causes cam deformity and resultant FAI. Although this may be unpopular with coaches and parents, orthopaedists as a group should begin to research and advocate preventive measures including likely activity limitations for adolescent athletes playing these sports.