The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the rim of the hip socket that helps seal and stabilise the joint. A tear can cause pain in the groin, with clicking or catching, particularly with twisting and deep bending. Labral tears are also very common on scans of people with no hip pain, so the scan has to be matched with your symptoms, and exercise-based rehabilitation is usually the first treatment.
Also known as acetabular labral tear, torn hip cartilage
Anatomy: where the problem is
Front view of the pelvis and hips. Highlighted in the diagram: hip labrum.
Symptoms
- Pain in the groin or the front of the hip, sometimes in a C-shape around the side
- Clicking, catching or locking in the hip
- Pain with twisting, pivoting, deep squatting or sitting for a long time
- Stiffness, or a feeling that the hip gives way
- Pain getting in or out of a car
Causes and risk factors
- The shape of the hip joint, such as hip impingement or a shallow socket
- Sports with repeated twisting or deep hip bending, such as football, hockey, dance and golf
- A fall, a tackle or a car accident
- Gradual wear with age
- Joint hypermobility
What the evidence says helps
- Scan results need careful interpretation. Labral tears and other joint changes are frequently seen in people without pain, so a tear on a scan is not proof that it is the cause.1
- An international consensus recommends exercise-based treatment, led by a physiotherapist or similar practitioner, for at least three months as the first step for hip-related pain in active adults.3
- In a UK trial of people with hip impingement, many of whom had labral tears, both keyhole surgery and a personalised physiotherapy programme improved symptoms. Surgery gave a somewhat greater improvement at one year.2
- Surgery is usually considered when a good trial of rehabilitation has not helped enough, and the decision depends on age, the shape of the hip and how much arthritis is present.23
Things you can try at home
- Ease off deep squats, pivoting and prolonged low sitting for a few weeks
- Keep active with walking, cycling or swimming if these are comfortable
- Strengthen the hip and trunk muscles, ideally with a programme designed for you
- Sit with your hips slightly higher than your knees
- Build back to sport gradually, guided by symptoms
When to get urgent help
Contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency if you have:
- Severe hip or groin pain after a fall, or being unable to put weight on the leg: go to A&E
- A hot, swollen joint with a fever or feeling unwell: get same-day medical help
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the genitals or back passage: go to A&E
- Constant pain that is worse at night, with unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer: see your GP
How Apollo can help
We examine the hip, pelvis and lower back and compare the findings with your symptoms and any scan report, so you know how much weight to put on the tear. Most people start with a progressive strengthening programme for the hip and trunk, changes to training and hands-on treatment where it helps. We can test hip strength with our VALD equipment to guide progress and return to sport. If you are not improving after a proper trial, we write to your GP about a specialist hip opinion, and we provide rehabilitation after surgery.
No GP referral needed. Clinics in Sheringham, Coltishall and Norwich.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Can a hip labral tear heal on its own?
The labrum has a limited blood supply, so tears do not usually knit back together. Symptoms often settle all the same, because pain depends on more than the tear, and strengthening the hip can reduce the load on the area.
Do I need surgery for a hip labral tear?
Not necessarily. Guidelines recommend at least three months of exercise-based rehabilitation first. Surgery is considered if that has not helped enough and the hip is otherwise in good condition.
My scan shows a labral tear but my hip does not hurt much. Should I worry?
No. More than half of people without hip pain have a labral tear on scans. If your symptoms are mild, staying active and keeping the hip strong is a sensible approach.
References
- Heerey JJ, et al. (2018). What is the prevalence of imaging-defined intra-articular hip pathologies in people with and without pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 52:581-593. View source
- Griffin DR, et al. (2018). Hip arthroscopy versus best conservative care for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. The Lancet 391:2225-2235. View source
- Kemp JL, et al. (2019). Physiotherapist-led treatment for young to middle-aged active adults with hip-related pain: consensus recommendations from the International Hip-related Pain Research Network, Zurich 2018. British Journal of Sports Medicine 54:504-511. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or a registered healthcare professional. Content prepared from the sources above, November 2026.
