Everyday People Matter

Growing Incidence of Hip Pain Among Young Patients Raises Risk of Disability

| Feb 17, 2014 | Arthritis, Back pain, Hip Pain

Chronic hip pain that is so serious that a person is no longer able to stand or walk now affects many young persons. In fact, researchers recently found a growing incidence of hip pain, or hip impingement, among younger people.

The study was conducted by hip experts at The Ohio State University, and they found that they are seeing an increase in the number of young persons with hip impingement. The experts stated that the ages of these patients range all the way from those in their teens through 60s.

This condition is very frequently seen among young persons who are active and play sports. In many cases these injuries tend to be sports-related, and although the incidence of such hip impingement or chronic pain is also evident in non-athletes, the incidence seems to be higher among those persons who were active round and going through puberty.

The reason for this is simple. During puberty, the hip growth plate fuses, and when a person participates in active sports, it causes the hip to be fused abnormally.
Femoral acetabular impingement of the hip is a risky condition, because if not treated adequately and in time, it can lead to the development of arthritis. Eventually, the person may also need a hip joint replacement.

The condition is even more hazardous, because it is often misdiagnosed, and symptoms often mirror symptoms found in other conditions. Typically, symptoms include lower back pain, and pain in the side of the hip and buttocks. The person may suffer from such chronic pain that he or she is no longer able to walk, which of course affects his or her ability to work later in life.