Athletic Hip Injuries and Capsular Laxity

Intra-articular hip injuries are becoming increasingly recognized as a significant cause of pain and decreased performance in the athlete. The introduction of arthroscopic techniques for the treatment of athletic hip injuries, including capsular laxity, has allowed many athletes to return to their high levels of performance. The mechanisms of intra-articular athletic hip injuries, however, have not been well defined. As a result, the establishment of optimal post-arthroscopic rehabilitation protocols and return-to-play guidelines has been difficult. However, based on extensive clinical observation, certain hip injury patterns have been documented for sports in which intra-articular hip pathology are common findings.