The hip is our largest joint and it has a huge weight to bear: our entire body! In this video, the PGA tour doctor, Vijay Vad, discusses common injuries of the hip. Hips are amazing instruments, able to move in almost any direction while still supporting the full weight of the body! To accomplish this, the bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles of the hip must all work in tandem. The hip is more than just the bones on the sides of the buttocks. It also includes the thighs, hamstring and groin. The hip is a ball-and-joint socket reinforced by a strong ring of cartilage called labrum. A supporting system of ligaments allows the hip a wide range of motion. A variety of injuries can befall the hip, but the most common are overuse injuries, also called strains. Strains can occur in any of the hip's muscles and range from a mild over-stretch to a torn muscle. Tennis players sometimes suffer from overuse injuries like hamstring strains, which often occur when they move from stillness to activity very quickly. Bruising on the backs of thighs or difficulty walking can result. Hip reflexor strains, another form of overuse injury, often occurs in martial artists or cyclists. A hip reflexor strain will usually result in pain near the crease where the thigh meets the pelvis. Bursitis is a type of hip injury that occurs when the hip's bursae, sacs of fluid which allow joints to glide seamlessly past one another, become inflamed. Hip bursitis can occur due to a single hard fall on the hip or an accumulation of minor stresses, like when runners repeatedly jump hurdles or jog uphill. The symptoms of bursitis depend on which bursae are inflamed. Most people who have hip bursitis experience intense pain, a limited range of motion, or aching in the thighs and buttocks. Occasionally, a hip injury will rip the ring of cartilage called labrum. Symptoms of labral tears can include locking of the joint, noisy clicks and pops, and pain in the groin or front of the hip. Even when tears don't have symptoms, they set the stage for later joint problems. More than one of the golf pros I've treated has suffered from uncomfortable labral tears. Usually, they arise when younger golfers twist too vigorously on their swings. The hip is an intricate joint, able to hold the weight of the body and support a full range of motion. Because of this, our hips are prone to injury.If you experience pain in your hip, groin, or thigh, see a doctor immediately.