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Iliopsoas Injury, Sports Medicine

Kevin E. Burroughs, MD, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • The iliopsoas is the most powerful hip flexor with a major role in posture, walking, and running 1.

  • Pathology can include iliopsoas bursitis, tendonitis, impingement, and snapping hip (coxa salt...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Pain can be present ± snapping.

  • If pain is the predominant feature, it will be in the groin or anterior thigh.

  • Irritation of the femoral nerve can be a cause of anterior thigh pain.

  • If there is...

TREATMENT

  • In mild cases of tendonitis/bursitis, relative rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and heat or other physical therapy modalities 6

  • If there is a palpable mass or remarkable e...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • A study by Johnston and colleagues showed that a home-based exercise program leads to the majority of individuals being pain free or essentially pain free 9[B].

  • The progra...

REFERENCES

1
Chopra A, Robinson P. Imaging athletic groin pain. Radiol Clin North Am.  2016;54(5):865–873.
2
Anderson CN. Iliopsoas: pathology, diagnosis, and treatment. Clin Sports Med.  2016;...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Adler RS, Buly R, Ambrose R, et al. Diagnostic and therapeutic use of sonography-guided iliopsoas peritendinous injections. AJR Am J Roentgenol.  2005;185(4):940–943.

  • Lachiewicz...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • The iliopsoas bursa is the largest synovial bursa in the body and is present in >95% of adults and communicates with the hip joint in 14%.

  • Pain involving the iliopsoas can come from ...

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