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Young Adult Hip Conditions
Hip pain isn't only an older adult's problem. In younger, active adults, hip pain often has a different underlying cause than typical age-related wear — and identifying that cause correctly is essential, since the right treatment can look very different from standard osteoarthritis care.
Common Causes in Younger Patients
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) — extra bone growth around the hip joint causing abnormal contact between the ball and socket during movement, often causing groin pain during activity or prolonged sitting
Hip Dysplasia — a shallow or poorly formed hip socket, present from birth or early development, which can lead to instability and premature joint wear if untreated
Labral Tears — damage to the cartilage rim (labrum) that lines the hip socket, often linked to FAI or dysplasia, and common in athletes involved in sports requiring repetitive hip movement
Early Osteoarthritis — sometimes younger patients do develop osteoarthritis earlier than typical, often as a consequence of one of the conditions above rather than simple age-related wear
Because several distinct conditions can cause similar symptoms — groin pain, stiffness, clicking or catching — a thorough assessment, including targeted imaging, is essential to identify exactly what's happening in your hip.
Treating the wrong underlying cause can mean missing the chance for more effective, joint-preserving treatment.
Why an Accurate Diagnosis Matters
Treatment Options
Depending on the specific diagnosis, treatment can range from physiotherapy and activity modification through to joint-preserving surgery — addressing the underlying structural problem directly, such as correcting impingement or repairing a labral tear — aimed at protecting the joint and delaying or avoiding the need for replacement later in life.
For a smaller number of younger patients where the joint is already significantly affected, hip replacement may still be the right option — a decision covered in more detail in our guide to hip replacement in younger patients.
A Different Conversation Than Standard Hip Arthritis Care
Younger, active patients often have different goals — a return to sport, physically demanding work, or simply avoiding a lifetime of compromise. Mr George takes this into account directly when discussing treatment options, rather than applying a generic approach designed around an older, less active patient population.