The hip is a ball and socket joint between the head of the femur and the pelvis. The hip bone is lined with cartilage, which is a smooth a substance that lines the inside of all joints. The hip bone is surrounded by muscles that allow the joint to rotate and help stabilize the hip. These muscles include the back, abdomen, hamstrings, quadriceps, abductors, adductors, and the gluteus maxim us. Injuries to the hip occur when these muscles have been overused or pushed too hard.
A common, but serious hip and pelvic injury is dislocation. Dislocating a hip can cause severe medical problems if not treated properly. Sever damage to the nerves and blood vessels can cause permanent weakness, numbness, and immobility to the injured area.
Another common injury to the hip and pelvic region is muscle strains. Muscle strains occur when the muscles attached to the thigh bone are pulled, stretched, or ruptured. Some of the common symptoms of a muscle strain in the hip and pelvic region include sudden sharp pain, weakness, and limited movement. Re-injury is very common in these types of injuries. On average the recovery time is between six to twelve weeks.
