A hip labral tear can cause groin pain, clicking, catching, locking, stiffness, and pain with sitting, squatting, twisting, or deep hip movement.
Dr. Siefferman discusses hip labral tears, including common symptoms, how they're diagnosed, and treatment options to reduce pain and restore mobility.
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Hi, I’m Dr. Jason Siefferman, medical director at Manhattan Pain Medicine. Labrum is a cartilage ring that occurs in the shoulder and in the hip. So, when we think about the labrum, again, the joint is a ball and socket joint. The labrum is this cartilage ring almost like a gasket for the joint. And whether it’s the shoulder, which is really more like this, or the hip like this, the labral tear can occur when that ball rubs out of the socket if someone’s hyper mobile or there was a traumatic sprain, for example. Or there can be impingement, and this is what happens with a hyperextension injury with the shoulder, often happens with baseball, or if there’s hip impingement where there’s actually eroding of that cartilage.
Regardless, we have to understand why. If we don’t understand why and fix the why, any repair to the labrum will not last. Because obviously whatever caused the tear in the first place can reoccur. Of course, if it was traumatic, as long as people don’t hurt themselves again, they’re generally fine. But if there’s some bony impingement, if that’s not addressed, it will reoccur. If the joint is hyper mobile, if it’s not stable and it’s wobbling around, no labral repair is going to persist. It’s going to retear. So, we start by understanding what’s happening with the joint, how it came to happen, why it didn’t heal on its own, and then we talk about how we can get that joint functioning better.
A hip labral tear is an injury to the labrum, the ring of cartilage that lines and supports the hip socket. The labrum helps the hip move smoothly and contributes to joint stability. When it is irritated or torn, patients may feel deep groin pain, hip pain, clicking, catching, locking, stiffness, or pain with sitting, squatting, pivoting, sports, or deep hip flexion.
Labral tears often overlap with hip impingement, also called femoroacetabular impingement, but they may also be related to trauma, repetitive motion, degeneration, arthritis, or hypermobility-related instability. Imaging findings should be interpreted carefully because a labral tear is most meaningful when it matches the patient’s symptoms and exam.
At Manhattan Pain Medicine, evaluation begins by determining whether the labral tear is truly the primary pain generator or one part of a broader hip, pelvic, spine, or hypermobility pattern.
For patients looking for hip labral tear treatment in Manhattan, MPM evaluates groin pain, hip clicking, catching, stiffness, range of motion, imaging findings, hip impingement, tendon irritation, sacroiliac referral, lumbar referral, pelvic pain, EDS, and hypermobility-related instability.
Care may include diagnostic ultrasound, ultrasound-guided injections, PRP, BMAC, prolotherapy, regenerative medicine discussions, rehabilitation coordination, and orthopedic referral when structural repair or arthroscopy may be appropriate.
Many patients arrive with an MRI showing a labral tear and assume that the tear explains all of their pain. Sometimes it does. Other times, the labral tear is only one finding among several possible pain drivers. Hip and groin pain may also come from hip impingement, hip arthritis, tendon injury, bursitis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, lumbar radiculopathy, pelvic floor tension, peripheral nerve irritation, or hypermobility-related instability.
MPM uses a diagnosis-first approach to clarify the source of pain before recommending treatment. The evaluation looks at whether the patient’s symptoms match the labral tear, whether mechanical symptoms are present, and whether a diagnostic injection may help confirm that the hip joint is the pain source. This helps patients avoid both undertreatment and unnecessary escalation when another condition may be contributing.
Hip labral tears fit within MPM’s Musculoskeletal issues Zone of Expertise, with important overlap in Hypermobility when EDS, joint laxity, instability, repeated injuries, or compensatory muscle guarding are present. This matters because the labrum helps support hip stability, and symptoms may worsen when the hip is exposed to abnormal loading, impingement, instability, or repetitive stress.
MPM uses the Zones of Expertise framework to evaluate whether symptoms appear joint-based, impingement-related, instability-related, tendon-related, pelvic, sacroiliac, spine-related, or mixed. For some patients, the labral tear is the main pain generator. For others, the tear is one part of a broader movement and pain pattern that also requires coordinated care.
These guys are the best. I've been going here for over 6 years and their familiarity with my Schwannomatosis (most ppl have never even heard of it - its rather rare) and their ability to diagnose my CRPS quickly and accurately and then treat it like I was merely getting a flu shot is just incredible...
Highly recommended for those who need Pain Management. Everyone at Manhattan Pain Medicine is extremely nice and helpful. I have had very good interactions with both Dr. Siefferman and Dr. Louis. All of the staff is very responsive. 5 stars.
The providers at Manhattan Pain Medicine are exceptional. I wish I had found them 30 years ago!
I genuinely can’t say enough good things about the team at Manhattan Pain Medicine. I have MCAS, EDS, and an inflammatory autoimmune disease, and I’ve basically been searching for answers since I was a kid. I had years of unexplained inflammation markers, chronic pain, and allergic reactions despite...
I have a complex medical history and have seen a lot of doctors over the years. Dr. Mikaberidze and Dr. Siefferman each took the time to really listen and understand everything I had been dealing with. I also appreciated how they work together and communicated about my care. I left with a plan that...
Sharing my gratitude for the pleasant experience last week during my visit, the medical team provided great care and also treated my session as a learning experience, I left my session with a wealth of knowledge. A big thank you to the kind, and professional staff who welcomed me to the office as a...
I cannot say enough good things about Manhattan Pain Medicine. From the moment I walked in, I felt truly cared for and taken seriously. Dr. Nino Mikaberidze, Director of Rheumatology, is exceptional — knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly thorough. She takes the time to listen, explains every...
Dr Siefferman is the most thorough, patient doctor I have even been to. Currently I travel from miami to nyc to see him because his bed side manner and desire to help is incomparable.
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This practice is wonderful. I have been a patient of Dr. Siefferman’s since 2019 and he’s extremely helpful and kind. He has brought in a Rheumatologist who is also great. They handle very complex pain issues and always try to find new ways to help me.
Dr. Siefferman is an incredible doctor! He is extremely diligent and knowledgeable. It feels like you are his only patient. He invests a lot of time and effort into your injuries and concerns. I did not find these wonderful qualities with other pain specialists before, who were always rushed and som...
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Dr. Siefferman is a doctor who combines the old world bedside manner of doctors from my childhood (60 years ago) with a sta te of the art embrace of modern technology. It is always a pleasure to have an appointment with him...always has options and solutions to my medical issues. He is truly the doc...
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Dr. Siefferman is a genius. He is very informed and listens attentively.
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Dr. Siefferman and his entire team continue to be efficient, dedicated, and driven by precision and a genuine desire to give fantastic care. Will always recommend.
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Doctor Siefferman is fantastic. Have been seeing him for 5 years. Couldn’t recommend more.
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Dr. Siefferman is the ONLY doctor who has ever been able to diagnose my pain and treat it. He is hands down the best
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A hip labral tear is damage to the labrum, the ring of cartilage that lines and supports the hip socket. The labrum helps the hip move smoothly, supports joint stability, and helps distribute load through the hip. When the labrum is irritated or torn, patients may feel deep groin pain, hip pain, clicking, catching, locking, stiffness, or pain with sitting, squatting, twisting, or sports. A labral tear should be interpreted in context because imaging findings are most meaningful when they match the patient’s symptoms and physical exam.
A hip labral tear may feel like deep groin pain, front-of-hip pain, buttock-side hip pain, clicking, catching, locking, stiffness, or pain with hip rotation. Symptoms may worsen with sitting, squatting, pivoting, running, climbing stairs, deep hip flexion, or sports that involve cutting and twisting. Some patients feel a sharp pinch, while others feel a deep ache or unstable sensation. Similar symptoms can also come from hip impingement, tendons, arthritis, sacroiliac dysfunction, lumbar referral, pelvic pain, or nerve irritation, so evaluation is important.
Hip labral tears may be caused by hip impingement, structural hip changes, sports, trauma, repetitive rotation, degeneration, arthritis, or hypermobility-related instability. Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, is a common cause because abnormal contact inside the hip can place stress on the labrum over time. Patients with EDS or hypermobility spectrum disorder may also have increased joint laxity or instability that changes how the hip is loaded. The cause matters because treatment may need to address impingement, instability, movement mechanics, or another pain driver.
No. A labral tear and hip impingement are different findings, although they often overlap. Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement, occurs when the ball and socket of the hip make abnormal contact during movement. A labral tear is injury to the cartilage ring around the hip socket. Hip impingement can contribute to labral tears, but a patient may have impingement without a symptomatic tear, or a labral tear with pain from another source. MPM evaluates both the hip structure and the pain pattern before recommending care.
A hip labral tear is evaluated through medical history, physical examination, hip range-of-motion testing, impingement testing, imaging review, and sometimes diagnostic injections. MRI or MR arthrogram may be used to evaluate the labrum and nearby joint structures. Diagnostic ultrasound may help assess surrounding soft tissue or guide injections, but it does not replace all imaging for labral evaluation. In selected cases, a diagnostic injection into the hip joint may help determine whether pain is coming from inside the joint.
Some patients with labral tear symptoms improve with nonsurgical care, including activity modification, rehabilitation, medication management, and selected injections. Nonsurgical care may focus on reducing painful hip positions, improving hip and core control, addressing pelvic mechanics, and reducing inflammation or pain. However, some patients continue to have mechanical symptoms, persistent groin pain, or functional limitation despite appropriate care. In those cases, orthopedic evaluation may be appropriate. The decision depends on symptoms, imaging findings, hip mechanics, goals, and response to conservative care.
Yes, image-guided injections may be used in selected patients with suspected labral tear pain. An injection may help reduce inflammation and pain, but it can also provide diagnostic information by clarifying whether pain is coming from inside the hip joint. If an anesthetic injection temporarily reduces the familiar pain, that can support the hip joint as a meaningful pain generator. Injections are not the right choice for every patient and should be considered only after careful evaluation, imaging review, risk discussion, and treatment planning.
PRP, BMAC, and prolotherapy may be considered only in selected cases after the diagnosis, anatomy, imaging findings, severity, risks, and goals are reviewed. These regenerative options should not be described as guaranteed labral repair, cartilage restoration, arthritis reversal, or a replacement for surgery when surgery is medically indicated. They may be discussed when symptoms involve selected soft tissue, joint, ligament, or instability-related pain patterns. MPM uses these options carefully as part of a diagnosis-first care plan, not as automatic treatment for every labral tear.
Before care begins, our team helps patients understand the practical side of treatment, including insurance verification, out-of-network benefits, cost-share estimates, self-pay options, and billing questions. We believe patients should have as much clarity as possible before moving forward.
A meniscal tear is an injury to one of the menisci, the C-shaped cartilage structures that sit between the thighbone and shinbone. Each knee has two menisci. They help cushion the joint, distribute load, and support knee stability. When a meniscus is torn, patients may feel pain, swelling, stiffness, clicking, catching, locking, giving way, or difficulty fully straightening the knee.
A meniscal tear may happen suddenly during a twisting or pivoting movement, especially when the foot is planted and the knee rotates. It may also occur during sports, deep squatting, kneeling, or trauma. In other patients, the tear develops gradually as the meniscus weakens with age, arthritis, or degeneration.
A traumatic meniscal tear often happens during a specific injury. The patient may remember a twist, pop, or sudden pain, followed by swelling, stiffness, or difficulty continuing activity. This is common in sports and activity-related knee injuries.
A degenerative meniscal tear may develop more gradually. Patients may not remember a single injury. Symptoms may appear with stairs, squatting, walking, twisting, or prolonged activity. Degenerative tears often occur in knees that also have arthritis or cartilage wear. People with knee arthritis may be more prone to meniscal tears.
This distinction matters because treatment may differ. A young athlete with a traumatic tear and mechanical symptoms may need a different care pathway than a patient with degenerative meniscal findings and knee arthritis.
MRI can be helpful for identifying meniscal tears and related knee pathology. However, the presence of a meniscal tear on imaging does not always prove it is the main pain source. Some tears are highly symptomatic. Others may be incidental or part of a broader degenerative knee pattern.
MPM evaluates whether the imaging matches the symptoms. The exam considers pain location, swelling, range of motion, mechanical catching or locking, ligament stability, strength, gait, arthritis signs, patellofemoral pain, tendon involvement, hypermobility, and referred pain from the hip or spine. The goal is not to treat the MRI report. The goal is to treat the patient’s actual pain generator.
Knee pain can come from many sources. A patient with clicking or pain may have a meniscal tear, but similar symptoms can also come from arthritis, cartilage injury, ligament strain, patellofemoral pain, tendon irritation, bursitis, nerve irritation, referred hip pain, referred spine pain, or inflammatory arthritis.
True locking, where the knee cannot fully straighten because of a mechanical block, is different from occasional clicking or discomfort. True locking may require orthopedic evaluation, especially when it follows injury or is associated with significant swelling or loss of motion.
Hypermobility can make meniscal and knee symptoms more complex. Patients with EDS or hypermobility spectrum disorder may have increased joint laxity, altered movement control, and greater reliance on muscles for stability. This can place extra stress on ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and the meniscus.
In these cases, care may need to address stability, proprioception, load management, and movement patterns, not only pain. A patient with hypermobility-related knee pain may need a different plan than a patient with an isolated traumatic meniscal tear.
MPM begins with a detailed history and physical examination. This includes how symptoms started, whether there was a twisting injury, where the pain is located, whether the knee swells, whether it catches or locks, whether the patient can fully straighten the knee, and what activities are limited.
The exam may evaluate joint line tenderness, range of motion, swelling, ligament stability, patellar tracking, strength, gait, and functional movements such as squatting or stepping. Imaging is reviewed in context. MRI may be useful for internal meniscal detail. Diagnostic ultrasound may help assess selected findings such as effusion, meniscal extrusion, or surrounding soft tissue and may guide injections when appropriate.
Treatment depends on the tear type, symptoms, mechanical features, arthritis burden, age, activity goals, and knee stability. Conservative care may include rest, activity modification, avoiding twisting or pivoting, ice, compression, elevation, bracing, medication management, and physical therapy. Treatment often begins with avoiding aggravating activities and using supportive measures such as ice when appropriate.
Physical therapy may focus on restoring motion, reducing swelling, improving strength, improving control, and gradually returning to activity. For degenerative tears, the plan may also need to address arthritis and long-term load management.
In selected patients, ultrasound-guided or image-guided injections may be considered for pain control, inflammation, or diagnostic clarification. Steroid injections may reduce inflammation and symptoms in selected cases but do not repair the tear itself. AAOS notes that physical therapy and corticosteroid injections may relieve symptoms but do not address the structural injury. (OrthoInfo)
Some patients ask about PRP, BMAC, prolotherapy, or regenerative medicine. These may be discussed only after reviewing the tear pattern, arthritis burden, anatomy, symptoms, goals, risks, and evidence. They should not be presented as guaranteed meniscus repair, cartilage restoration, arthritis reversal, or a substitute for surgery when surgery is medically indicated.
Orthopedic referral may be appropriate when there is true locking, inability to fully straighten the knee, major traumatic tear, suspected root tear, persistent mechanical symptoms, severe functional limitation, or failure of appropriate nonsurgical care. Surgery may also be needed when structural damage requires repair or when symptoms remain significant despite a careful treatment plan.
MPM does not frame surgery as failure. For selected patients, orthopedic evaluation and arthroscopy may be the appropriate next step.
Knee pain should be evaluated when symptoms persist, worsen, limit walking or activity, cause true locking, catching, instability, swelling, inability to fully straighten the knee, or follow trauma. Urgent evaluation is important for inability to bear weight, major swelling after injury, visible deformity, fever, redness, calf swelling, loss of pulses, new weakness or numbness, or rapidly worsening pain.
MPM approaches meniscal tears through a diagnosis-first, coordinated model. The evaluation considers meniscal injury, arthritis, ligament instability, cartilage injury, tendon pain, hypermobility, EDS, referred hip or spine pain, peripheral nerve irritation, and chronic pain sensitization.
For patients looking for meniscus tear treatment in Manhattan, MPM offers a careful pain medicine perspective that can work alongside physical therapy, orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. The goal is to determine whether the meniscal tear is the true pain generator, clarify whether nonsurgical care is appropriate, and coordinate referral when structural treatment may be needed.
