From the Research
Hip flexor tendonitis in pediatric patients should be treated with a conservative approach, focusing on rest, ice, and physical therapy, as this method has been shown to be effective in managing pain and inflammation, and improving quality of life, as suggested by the most recent and highest quality study available 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Hip flexor tendonitis is an overuse injury affecting the tendons that help flex the hip, commonly seen in active children and adolescents involved in sports requiring repetitive hip flexion.
- Treatment typically begins with rest from aggravating activities for 1-2 weeks, followed by a gradual return to sports.
- Ice should be applied to the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times daily to reduce inflammation.
- Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (10mg/kg/dose every 6-8 hours, not exceeding 40mg/kg/day) or acetaminophen (15mg/kg/dose every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 75mg/kg/day) can help manage pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy focusing on gentle stretching and strengthening exercises is crucial for recovery and prevention of recurrence.
Prevention and Rehabilitation
Parents should ensure proper warm-up before activities, appropriate footwear, and avoid training intensity increases of more than 10% weekly.
- This condition occurs when repetitive stress causes inflammation in the hip flexor tendons, particularly the iliopsoas tendon, leading to pain in the front of the hip or groin that worsens with activity.
- Most children recover fully with conservative treatment within 4-6 weeks, though severe cases may require longer rehabilitation, as noted in 2 and 3.
Key Considerations
It is essential to consider the age of the patient and the specific diagnosis when forming a treatment plan, as pediatric hip pathology is strongly age-related, as mentioned in 2.
- A thorough physical exam is critical for the diagnosis of pediatric hip pathology, as many conditions have exam findings that are very commonly associated with the pathology, if not pathognomonic for the disorder, as stated in 2.