Sports Medicine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
The differential diagnosis of athletic hip pain is extensive. The physical demands of sport place the athlete at increased risk to injure the hip. The basis of successful treatment of the athlete with hip pain lies in the ability of the physician to assess and diagnose the etiology accurately. A thorough understanding of the evaluation of the athlete with hip pain allows for an earlier diagnosis, earlier treatment, and ultimately an earlier return to sport.