What it is

A labral tear is damage to the ring of cartilage that deepens the hip socket and helps seal joint fluid.

People feel groin pain or a catching sensation with turns, deep flexion, or prolonged sitting. Some report clicking.

Tears often occur with femoroacetabular impingement, but can follow trauma or develop gradually.

Structured rehabilitation can reduce symptoms and restore function. Some tears remain irritable and respond to arthroscopy.

What happens when it occurs

The damaged labrum loses its sealing and stabilising role, which can irritate the joint and adjacent cartilage.

Managing provocative positions and improving hip control reduces mechanical stress.

Common causes and risk factors

  • FAI morphology, repetitive deep flexion and rotation
  • Trauma, hypermobility, or previous hip surgery
  • Weakness in hip rotators and abductors

Who is most affected

Young and middle-aged active adults, field and court athletes, and dancers.

Typical symptoms

  • Anterior groin pain, clicking or catching
  • Pain with deep flexion, pivoting, or prolonged sitting
  • Occasional sense of giving way

When to seek care

If groin pain persists beyond two weeks, if catching or locking occurs, or if night pain develops.

How we diagnose

History and examination including flexion-adduction-internal rotation testing and resisted straight-leg raise.

MRI arthrogram defines labral pathology when surgery is considered.

Management

  • Activity modification avoiding deep flexion pivoting early
  • Strengthening for hip rotators, abductors, and trunk control
  • Education on sitting height and posture, gait and running cues
  • Arthroscopy considered for mechanical catching that fails rehabilitation

Rehabilitation milestones

Phase 1 weeks 0 to 2: pain control, range in neutral arcs, isometrics.

Phase 2 weeks 2 to 8: heavy slow resistance for abductors and rotators, trunk control, step work.

Phase 3 weeks 8 to 16: graded run, change of direction, sport drills.

Phase 4 weeks 16 to 24: full workload, speed and agility as tolerated.

Readiness to progress

  • Groin pain no higher than 2 out of 10 the next morning
  • Hip rotation strength within 90 percent of the other side
  • Run, cut, and step tasks completed without catching

Prevention

  • Maintain hip rotation strength and control
  • Limit prolonged deep flexion sitting
  • Use gradual progressions for running and cutting

Australia snapshot

  • FAI and labral symptoms are frequent in field and court athletes and dancers
  • Men are more likely to have cam morphology, women more pincer patterns
  • Caseload is concentrated in active adults

Latest insights

Criteria-based loading reduces pain and improves function without relying on rest.

Surgery addresses mechanical catching when rehabilitation does not restore function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expect 8 to 16 weeks for symptoms to improve with structured loading. Complex tears can take longer or need arthroscopy.

Yes if pain stays at or below 3 out of 10 and the next morning is no worse. Use shorter steps and avoid sharp pivots early.

MRI arthrogram identifies labral tears best. Use it when surgery is considered or progress stalls.

Clicking without pain is common. Clicking with sharp pain or locking suggests a mechanical issue and needs review.

When rotation strength is within 90 percent of the other side, you can run and cut without pain, and hop tests are symmetrical.

Raise seat height, avoid deep hip flexion, use breaks to stand, and keep hips neutral.

Drive when you can move the hip comfortably through pedals and can sit without pain for the trip time.