Comprehensive Physical Examination of the Hip

Hip pain is a common chief complaint among sports medicine patients, and there is a wide variety of pathology that may cause pain around the hip joint.

Any patient presenting to a clinic with a complaint of hip and groin pain should undergo a comprehensive physical examination to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

All patients presenting with hip pain, regardless of the complaint, undergo a screening examination to further identify potential etiology of their pain. Based on the screening examination, as well as a comprehensive history and imaging findings, more specific examination maneuvers may be conducted to further establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Hip pain presents a diagnostic challenge for sports medicine providers, as there is a wide range of pathology that may manifest as pain around the hip joint. It is vital for all sports providers, regardless of the area of interest, to have the ability to perform a comprehensive physical examination of the hip to obtain an accurate diagnosis and to initiate appropriate treatment plans.

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