Hip Pointer Injuries and Treatment

Hip pointer injuries occur often in contact sports, but treating hip pointers is easy and can lead to relatively quick recovery

Common Injuries

A hip pointer is a direct contact injury to the iliac crest, the bony prominence that can be felt along the waistline. This is a very common injury in high-contact sports, such as football and hockey.

What is a Hip Pointer?

When you sustain a hip pointer injury, the bone and overlying muscle can be bruised. The bruising is not always visible and may actually occur deep below the skin. A hip pointer is recognizable by pain and tenderness after a direct contact injury. There is also a loss of motion in your hip joint that often causes a limp while walking and hampers your ability to run. 

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Treating Hip Pointers

The good news is that a hip pointer injuries can usually be treated with rest and ice. You should discontinue workouts and any activity that causes pain until the hip feels better. Icing the hip every hour during the first 48 hours also speeds healing. It may take one to two weeks before the hip is pain-free with movement. 

If your pain lasts longer than two weeks or worsens, you should consult your physician. This may be a sign of a more serious injury. If your doctor suspects a fracture, he or she may order an X-ray. 

Protecting Your Hips

Hip pointers occur through direct blows to the hip area and can’t always be prevented. You can minimize your risk of the injury by wearing the appropriate protective equipment, such as hip pads for football and hockey players. In sports where padding is not worn, such as soccer, certain skills and techniques can be taught to avoid the injury. 

Hunter Greene, M.D., is a board certified orthopedic surgeon with Summit Orthopedic Specialists in Carmichael. He specializes in adult and pediatric sports medicine.

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