Traction apophysitis can be a cause of hip pain at the front of the hip in children and teenagers. Our physio, Steve Hockham, explains in this article how this condition is caused and what treatment is available for it. At Blackberry Clinic we treat patients of all ages including children and teenagers. If you are concerned that your child or teenager is suffering from pain at the front of the hip then please do seek professional advice as soon as possible to avoid long term developmental issues in the growing adolescent.
Anterior (front) hip pain is common in children and young teenagers, particularly those involved in regular sports. Anterior hip pain in a sporting population is frequently caused by traction apophysitis. This happens a lot in sports that involve running and high velocity movements, such as football/rugby/gymnastics.
Children’s bones are not fully hardened like an adult bone, and certain points on the bones where some muscles attach are vulnerable to stress when they are exposed to heavy/repeated load (exercise/sports). This can affect the apophysis which is the growth centre of the bone. The strong tendons that attach to these growth plates can cause inflammation and pain when they pull on the apophysis and can in severe cases cause an avulsion (fragments of bone being pulled away from the growth plate).
These conditions can appear gradually but can also happen suddenly during an explosive movement such as kicking a ball or sprinting. In some cases a popping or clicking sensation will be felt and will lead to immediate pain and a reluctance to move or stretch the affected area.
These conditions often happen during or after a growth spurt when some muscle groups may have become tight due to rapid increase in the length of the bones they attach to, such as the Rectus Femoris muscle in the front of the hip/thigh.
These conditions are usually easy to treat but do require an expert opinion to ensure it is being managed appropriately. Any child/teenager complaining of pain at the front of the hip should be assessed to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen, which could have a long term effect on their development.
Treatment usually involves a combination of stretching and mobility exercises as well as strengthening where required. Most importantly any treatment plan would involve discussion on how to manage overall exercise volume.
Traction Apophysitis, though manageable, should never be ignored in order to ensure there are no longer term developmental issues. Book in with one of our Blackberry Clinic team of physiotherapists if you are concerned about any anterior hip pain in your child or teenager.
