Hip Preservation Glossary of Terms

The socket in the pelvis that holds the head of the femur, forming the hip joint.
→ Related: What is Hip Dysplasia?

A condition causing joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain—commonly due to wear and tear in older adults, but also seen in younger patients with underlying hip issues.
→ Related: Avoiding Total Hip Replacement

A minimally invasive surgery using a small camera to diagnose and treat joint issues like labral tears or impingement.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Arthroscopy

A condition where poor blood flow to the femoral head leads to bone tissue death and joint pain.
→ Related: Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the Hip

A bony growth that can develop on the edges of bones, often causing pain or limiting motion in the hip.
→ Related: Understanding Bone Spurs in the Hip

Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion the hip, often resulting in pain over the outer hip.
→ Related: Hip Bursitis Exercises for Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

Support devices worn around the hip to stabilize the joint, reduce pain, or assist recovery.
→ Related: Hip Braces: When, Why, and How to Use Them for Hip Pain and Recovery

A smooth tissue covering the ends of bones in the joint, allowing pain-free movement. Damage to hip cartilage can lead to labral tears or arthritis.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Labral Tears

A form of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) where extra bone on the femoral head causes friction and joint damage.
→ Related: Comparing PAO Surgery and Hip Scope Surgery

A surgical technique used during arthroscopy to access the hip joint by cutting into the capsule.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Arthroscopy

Non-surgical strategies like physical therapy, injections, or lifestyle changes to manage hip pain.
→ Related: How to Avoid Hip Surgery: Alternative Treatments

A surgical procedure that rotates the femur to correct abnormal femoral torsion, often relieving hip pain and improving alignment.
→ Related: Derotational Femoral Osteotomy (DFO): A Surgical Solution for Femoral Torsion and Hip Pain

A condition where the hip socket is too shallow to fully cover and support the femoral head, leading to instability and arthritis.
→ Related: What is Hip Dysplasia?, Common Misconceptions About Hip Dysplasia and Surgery

Identifying hip dysplasia or structural problems before significant joint damage occurs, often improving surgical outcomes.
→ Related: The Importance of Early Diagnosis for Hip Dysplasia

Targeted physical activities that strengthen muscles, protect the hip joint, and aid recovery after procedures.
→ Related: Top Exercises to Prepare for Hip Surgery, The Essential Guide to Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

A movement where the thigh or leg turns outward from the hip. Limited or painful rotation may signal labral tears, impingement, or bursitis.

A condition where extra bone in the hip causes friction between the femur and socket, often leading to pain and labral damage.
→ Related: Comparing PAO Surgery and Hip Scope Surgery

The rounded top of the femur (thighbone) that fits into the acetabulum to form the ball-and-socket hip joint.

A surgical reshaping of the femur to correct cam impingement or structural abnormalities in the hip joint.
→ Related: Combined Hip Arthroscopy & PAO

A major nerve running from the lower back into the thigh, supplying sensation and motor function. Can be irritated during hip injury or surgery.
→ Related: Understanding the Femoral Nerve

Muscles at the front of the hip that help lift your leg. Injuries here are common in athletes and may mimic groin or labral pain.
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The large, bony bump on the outer side of the femur near the hip. It serves as a muscle attachment site and can be a source of pain in bursitis or tendonitis.
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A condition involving inflammation of the soft tissues around the greater trochanter, often resulting in outer hip pain.
→ Related: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A minimally invasive procedure to treat joint problems like labral tears or FAI by using small incisions and a camera.
→ Related: Hip Arthroscopy: A Minimally Invasive Procedure for Lasting Hip Pain Relief

Supportive devices used to limit motion, reduce pain, or protect the hip joint during recovery.
→ Related: Hip Braces: When, Why, and How to Use Them for Hip Pain and Recovery

A structural condition in which the hip socket is too shallow, often leading to instability, cartilage damage, or arthritis.
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A group of muscles that help lift the thigh and bend the hip. Injuries or tightness can lead to groin or anterior hip pain.
→ Related: How Long Does It Take to Heal a Hip Flexor Injury in Football?

A tear in the labrum, the cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket, often causing pain, clicking, or instability.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Labral Tears, Exercises to Avoid with a Torn Labrum

A medical approach that focuses on treating hip problems early—using surgery or therapy—to avoid total hip replacement.
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A condition where abnormal bone shapes in the hip cause the femur and socket to rub together, damaging the labrum and cartilage.
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Minimally invasive treatments used to relieve inflammation or promote healing in soft tissues or joints.
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A sensation of the hip feeling loose, giving way, or not sitting properly in the socket—often related to dysplasia, labral damage, or ligament injuries.
→ Related: Labral Reconstruction: Restoring Hip Stability and Motion When Repair Isn’t Enough

A fibrous tissue that encloses the hip joint, helping to stabilize it. This capsule is often accessed or tightened during hip arthroscopy.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Arthroscopy

A treatment philosophy focused on maintaining the natural hip joint for as long as possible through conservative care or joint-sparing surgery.
→ Related: Avoiding Total Hip Replacement, Innovations in Hip Preservation Treatments

A ring of cartilage lining the rim of the acetabulum that helps secure the femoral head and stabilize the hip. Tears can lead to pain, clicking, and instability.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Labral Tears

A surgical procedure to fix a torn labrum, often performed during hip arthroscopy to restore joint stability and reduce pain.
→ Related: Returning to Sports After Hip Labral Repair

A surgical option when the labrum is too damaged to repair. It replaces the torn cartilage with a graft to restore hip function.
→ Related: Labral Reconstruction: Restoring Hip Stability and Motion When Repair Isn't Enough

A small ligament inside the hip joint that helps with stability. It can be injured or torn during trauma or in patients with instability.
→ Related: Understanding the Ligamentum Teres: Function, Injuries, and Treatment Options

A change in walking pattern caused by pain or weakness in the hip or surrounding muscles. Common in patients with labral tears, dysplasia, or post-op recovery.

When certain muscles are stronger or tighter than others, leading to poor hip alignment or movement. Can contribute to injuries or chronic pain.
→ Related: A Comprehensive Guide to Hip Muscle Anatomy and Function

Common misunderstandings about hip conditions, surgery, or recovery that may prevent people from seeking timely care.
→ Related: Myths and Facts About Hip Preservation, Common Misconceptions About Hip Dysplasia and Surgery

Pain caused by irritation or compression of nerves, such as the femoral or sciatic nerve, often felt as burning, tingling, or numbness.
→ Related: Understanding the Femoral Nerve: Function, Injuries, and Treatment Options

A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and anti-inflammatory foods can support bone and joint health during recovery or ongoing treatment.
→ Related: Diet and Nutrition for Hip Health

A traditional surgical approach that uses larger incisions compared to minimally invasive techniques like arthroscopy. Sometimes needed for complex hip issues like PAO.

A degenerative condition where the cartilage in the hip joint wears down over time, leading to stiffness, swelling, and pain.
→ Related: Avoiding Total Hip Replacement

A surgical procedure where bones are cut and repositioned to correct structural hip problems. Common types include PAO and DFO.
→ Related: Everything You Need to Know About PAO Surgery, Derotational Femoral Osteotomy (DFO)

Refers to the results of treatment—like pain relief, return to activity, or improved quality of life—often measured after surgery or rehab.
→ Related: Success Rates and Outcomes of Hip Preservation Procedures

A surgical procedure used to correct hip dysplasia by cutting and repositioning the bones around the hip socket to provide better coverage of the femoral head.
→ Related: Everything You Need to Know About PAO Surgery, Comparing PAO Surgery and Hip Scope Surgery

Strategies to reduce or control hip pain, including medications, injections, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
→ Related: How to Manage Pain After Hip Surgery

A treatment method using guided exercises and techniques to improve hip strength, flexibility, and mobility—often essential before and after surgery.
→ Related: The Role of Physical Therapy in Hip Preservation

A small muscle located deep in the buttock that helps with hip rotation. Tightness or irritation can mimic hip or sciatic nerve pain.
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A structured recovery program after hip surgery, including rest, physical therapy, gradual return to activity, and home care.
→ Related: The Essential Guide to Post-Surgery Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Tips for a Faster Recovery

A natural therapy using a concentration of your own platelets to promote healing in injured soft tissue or joints.
→ Related: The Role of PRP Injections in Hip Preservation

Devices like hip braces used during activity or recovery to reduce pain, enhance stability, or prevent re-injury.
→ Related: Hip Braces: When, Why, and How to Use Them for Hip Pain and Recovery

A small, flat muscle located deep in the buttock between the ischial tuberosity and the femur. It helps with external rotation and stabilization of the hip. Strain or compression in this area can mimic sciatic pain.
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A broad term for recovery practices following surgery or injury, including exercises, therapies, and gradual return to normal activity.
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The full movement potential of the hip joint. Pain, stiffness, or injury can restrict range and affect daily function.

The process of safely resuming athletic activity after hip surgery or injury, often guided by your surgeon or physical therapist.
→ Related: Returning to Sports After Hip Labral Repair

Hip pain that worsens with running, often due to labral tears, FAI, or overuse. Requires rest, rehab, or medical evaluation.
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The largest nerve in the body, running from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. Compression or irritation near the hip can cause radiating pain, numbness, or weakness.

Injuries like labral tears, FAI, or muscle strains that occur in athletes due to repetitive motion, trauma, or overuse.
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Gentle flexibility exercises that help reduce muscle tightness, improve mobility, and relieve discomfort.
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A patient whose hip condition, anatomy, and symptoms make them eligible for surgical intervention like PAO or arthroscopy.
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A tear in the cartilage ring around the hip socket that can cause clicking, pain, and limited motion.
→ Related: Understanding Hip Labral Tears, Exercises to Avoid with a Torn Labrum

Inflammation of the bursa over the greater trochanter, leading to outer hip pain.
→ Related: Hip Bursitis Exercises for Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

A twist in the femur that affects the alignment of the hip joint. Excessive torsion may require surgical correction such as DFO.
→ Related: Derotational Femoral Osteotomy (DFO)

The largest and most powerful part of the quadriceps muscle group, located on the outer thigh. It helps extend the knee and stabilize the leg during movement. Weakness or overuse can contribute to hip or knee pain.
→ Related: A Comprehensive Guide to Hip Muscle Anatomy and Function

Pre-activity movements that prepare the hip muscles and joints for more intense exercise, reducing injury risk.
→ Related: Top Exercises to Prepare for Hip Surgery

Imaging used to assess hip structure, alignment, dysplasia, arthritis, or bone spurs.
→ Related: Understanding Your Hip X-Rays: A Patient’s Guide