The following symptoms are signs of hip disorders:
- Recurring hip pain
- Morning hip pain
- Stiffness after periods of rest
- Range of motion reductions
- Swelling in the hip joint
- Snapping, crunching or clunking sounds
Hip Anatomy
The hip joint connects the haunches to the legs. It is a ball-and-socket joint consisting of the socket-shaped acetabulum and the ball-shaped femoral head. The acetabular labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage that surrounds the acetabulum. This ring serves to deepen the acetabulum, thereby enabling greater joint power and stability. The joint capsule connects the various parts of the hip. The inside of the joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane that produces fluid for the joint. The outside of the joint capsule is reinforced by the strongest ligaments in the body. These ligament structures, which run from the ilium to the femur, enable us humans to stand without having to summon a degree of muscle strength. Together with the tendons that attach the hip muscles to the bone, these ligaments secure the stability of the hipjoint and enable it to move.
In order to ensure smooth hip joint movement, the healthy femoral head and the acetabulum are both outfitted with a smooth layer of cartilage with a thickness of up to 5 mm. This elastic layer is surrounded by joint fluid that both nourishes and lubricates the cartilage. The stability of the cartilage is supported by the muscles and ligaments that surround it. Assuming equal levels of stress, an injury to one of the internal or peripheral structures of the hip can lead to premature joint wear, a condition known as hip osteoarthritis.