Rehabilitation for Hip Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy continues to be a more accepted treatment option for individuals with nonarthritic hip pain. Current postoperative rehabilitation protocols are determined by basic science and clinical experience. The primary injury of interest is acetabular labral tears. Associated diagnoses include femoroacetabular impingement, capsular laxity, and focal chondral lesions. The population of patients undergoing arthroscopy of the hip is relatively active, resulting in specific challenges during rehabilitation. The goals of postoperative rehabilitation are restoring range of motion, strength, endurance, and functional capacity while avoiding clinical complications. In addition to surgically addressing labral tears, osteoplasty, tissue release, capsular modification, and microfracture procedures may also be performed. Specific rehabilitation concerns exist for each procedure. Functional progression should be determined by the appropriate progression through each successive phase of rehabilitation. Although rare, clinical complications may be encountered during the rehabilitation process. Complications include tendinitis, range of motion difficulties, and prolonged complaints of paresthesia. As the practice of hip arthroscopy evolves, postoperative rehabilitation protocols must adapt to reflect changes in clinical experience and the available evidence.