Hip Labral Tear Risk Factors and Causes

The primary cause of a hip labral tear is increased stress on the labrum from an underlying hip condition.

Repetitive motions or overuse activities, common in athletes and those with physically demanding occupations, increase the likelihood of labral tears.

5 Causes of Hip Labral Tears

The hip labrum can become thin, fray, tear, or fully detach due to one or more of the following 5 causes¹Groh MM, Herrera J. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):105-117. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9052-9:

1. Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement), a condition where the hip joint’s ball and/or socket grow excess bone, causing abnormal contact between the two bones, and over time, leading to labral friction, fatigue, and tearing. 
   Hip impingement is the most common cause of hip labral tears.
2. Hip dysplasia, an inherited condition where the hip socket is shallow and doesn’t fully hold the ball portion of the thigh bone. Over time, hip instability and increased stress on the joint contribute to a labral tear.
   Hip dysplasia is the second most common cause of hip labral tears.²Cho YJ, Rhyu KH, Chun YS, Kim MS. Patterns of labral tears and cartilage injury are different in femoroacetabular impingement and dysplasia. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2022;9(3):151-157. Published 2022 Jun 30. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnac026
3. Trauma, which includes:
   • Repetitive micro-trauma from activities or sports that involve running, twisting, and/or pivoting motions, causing the labrum to wear and tear
   • Sudden trauma or injury, from motor vehicle accidents, tripping, falling, or contact sports, where the ball and socket portions of the hip dislodge, leading to a tear or detachment of the labrum.

4. Capsular laxity or hip hypermobility due to collagen or hormonal disorders, which make the hip joint excessively mobile and cause extreme stretching and tearing of the labrum during hip or leg movements.
5. Degeneration of the hip joint (such as in hip osteoarthritis) and labrum cartilage due to aging

Hip labral tears are more common in women and can occur at any age between 8 and 75 years.¹

Risk Factors for Hip Labral Tears

The following risk factors increase the possibility of a hip labral tear:

• Diagnosis of another hip condition, such as hip impingement
• Athletic activities that increase stress on the hip and labrum, such as golf, soccer, and ballet
• Contact sports that involve frequent twisting motions in the hip, such as checking in ice hockey and tackling in football
• Developmental conditions, such as hip dysplasia, affecting the hip’s bones, resulting in a smaller acetabulum (hip socket) and/or larger femoral head (upper part of the thigh bone)
• Women aged 15 to 41 years¹Groh MM, Herrera J. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2009;2(2):105-117. doi:10.1007/s12178-009-9052-9
• Lack of strength and flexibility in and around the hip
• Ligament laxity or loose ligaments that causes the hip joint to bend more than usual

Preventing or reducing the risk of a torn labrum involves adequately warming up and cooling down before and after a workout or sport, maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet, and using supported postures when bending, lifting, pulling, or twisting.