While injuries such as muscle strains and knee injuries are far more common, hip injuries in the workplace can and do still happen. Hip injuries are often caused by overuse of muscles and joints, but they can also be caused by workplace accidents such as slipping and falling. According to the CDC, 95% of all hip fractures are caused by slipping and falling.
Common hip injuries can lead to reduced mobility, pain, and discomfort in the hips, and may cause you to miss days or weeks of work while you recover.
What are some common hip injuries that can occur in the workplace?
- Hip fractures — A fractured hip is one of the more severe injuries that can occur. This occurs due to a sudden, intense impact against the hip bone, causing the bone to fracture. This can happen due to slipping and falling onto a hard surface.
- Hip sprains — Hip sprains can occur when the muscles in the hip form microscopic tears that can become worse due to overuse. Someone who is constantly running back and forth may be susceptible to a hip sprain.
- Hip impingements — Sometimes the ball of the hip joint pinches the strip of cartilage that runs around the rim of the hip socket. This is known as a hip impingement injury and can happen during vigorous activity. It is often a result of an underlying issue with hip bone formation. If left untreated, the condition can become more painful and lead to hip osteoarthritis. People in physical jobs may aggravate an existing hip impingement by overusing their hip.
- Hip labral tears — Repeated movement or overextension of the sockets in the hips can cause the cartilage between the hip bone and the upper leg bone to tear. This results in severe pain and difficulty moving the joint. Hip labral tears can develop in workers who do tasks involving repetitive hip movements such as frequent twisting. They can also occur in workers who slip and fall onto their hip.
How can physical therapy help treat my common hip injuries?
If you’ve suffered from a common hip injury while in the workplace, Panther Physical Therapy is here to help. We work with you as well as your primary care physician to determine the best course of physical therapy treatment for you. We can then employ a number of methods to help you recover, including:
Panther Physical Therapy also works with all workers’ compensation insurances. A free screening at one of our clinics will help us get you started on the road to recovery.
Contact our team today for more information about help for an injured hip or to schedule an initial appointment.