Hip Tendon Tear Relief At Mountain View Headache and Spine Institute

Not always. Some hip tendon tears, especially Grade 1 injuries where the tendon is mildly stretched with minimal fiber damage, may cause no pain or noticeable symptoms.

Yes, MRI scans can typically detect most hip tendon tears. They offer detailed imaging of large muscles, tendon and labral tears, as well as inflamed areas.

Generally, a physician or orthopedic surgeon will begin treatment with conservative measures such as rest, ice application, anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief, therapeutic massage, targeted stretching, and muscle strengthening through physical therapy. If symptoms persist, corticosteroid injections or hip tendon repair surgery may be recommended.¹

Hip tendon repair surgery may involve stitching torn tendons, releasing tight tendons to promote healing, or surgically lengthening them. Although such procedures can relieve pain and improve function, altering the tendon’s natural length, whether by shortening or lengthening, often introduces new complications, including:

• Severe and potentially permanent damage to surrounding ligaments, muscles, and fascia
• Persistent or chronic pain
• Chromosomal damage caused by metal debris from hip replacement components
• Cobalt and chromium toxicity
• Tissue irritation leading to pseudotumor formation (abnormal growths triggered by implant-related irritation)
• Allergic reactions to implant materials
• Joint instability in the hip

Importantly, the root biomechanical cause of the initial tendon injury, such as hip impingement, tendonitis, tendinosis, arthritis, labral tears, or avascular necrosis, often remains unaddressed. Despite a lengthy recovery process, tendons typically have a limited blood supply, which can impair healing and increase the likelihood of reinjury following surgery.²

Tendons are resilient, cord-like structures composed of straight, parallel collagen fibers that connect muscles to bones. In the hip, two key tendons attach to the outer portion of the femoral head: the gluteus minimus and gluteus medius.

Both tendons play a role in hip abduction, moving the leg outward from the body. 

Additionally, the gluteus minimus serves as the primary internal rotator of the hip, enabling inward rotation of the thigh. Other tendons frequently involved in hip injuries include the iliotibial (IT) band and the hamstring tendon.

The most common causes of damage to the hip tendons include:

1. Tendonitis: Tendonitis is characterized by acute inflammation, usually triggered by overuse or repetitive motion. While painful, this condition typically does not result in permanent damage to the underlying tendon tissue.
2. Tendinosis: Tendinosis involves chronic tendon degeneration. Over time, the tendon becomes thickened, fibrotic, and rubbery due to prolonged microtrauma. This condition is often painful, accompanied by decreased flexibility and function, and may affect multiple tendons surrounding the hip joint.
3. Tendon Tears⁵: Tendon tears are classified by severity into three grades:

• Grade 1 (Mild): Slight overstretching of the muscle or tendon without pain, swelling, or joint instability.
• Grade 2 (Moderate): Partial tearing of the muscle or tendon, with associated tenderness, swelling, bruising, pain, mild instability, and some loss of function.
• Grade 3 (Severe): Complete rupture of the tendon or muscle, resulting in significant pain, swelling, bruising, and substantial instability. Weight-bearing is typically not possible, and function is severely impaired.