Hip Pointer Injury Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Overview

A hip pointer is an injury to the iliac crest, the bony ridge you can feel at the top of your hip. This area is not well protected by muscle or padding, making it vulnerable to injury. When the iliac crest is hit directly, it can cause a deep bruise to the bone and surrounding soft tissues. In some cases, bleeding can spread into the nearby abdominal muscles, increasing pain and stiffness.

Hip pointer injuries are especially common in athletes, but they can also occur during everyday accidents, such as falls.

What causes Hip Pointer Injury?

Hip pointer injuries are most often caused by a direct blow to the side of the hip. This type of injury commonly occurs during contact sports when players collide or fall onto hard surfaces. The force of the impact bruises the iliac crest and surrounding tissues.

Although many hip pointer injuries happen on the playing field, non-athletes can also experience this injury due to falls or accidents that involve landing hard on the hip.

How the Injury Occurs

A hip pointer injury happens when a strong impact strikes the iliac crest. The force compresses the bone and soft tissue, causing inflammation, bruising, and pain. Because several abdominal and hip muscles attach to this area, even simple movements can stretch the injured tissues and worsen symptoms.

Common Everyday Causes

Hip pointer injuries can occur outside of sports due to:

• Falling onto the side of the hip
• Slipping on stairs or uneven surfaces
• Direct impact during a motor vehicle accident
• Accidental collisions with hard objects

Sports Where Hip Pointer Injuries Are Common

Hip pointer injuries are most frequently seen in sports that involve contact, falls, or high-speed movement:

• Football – Tackles and helmet contact often strike the hip directly
• Hockey – Collisions with boards or other players are common
• Basketball – Falls or player contact can lead to hip impact
• Volleyball – Diving for the ball may result in hip contact with the floor
• Skiing – Falls onto hard snow or ice increase risk
• Rugby – Repeated high-impact tackles place stress on the hip

Symptoms

People with a hip pointer injury often experience pain and tenderness at the site of impact. Hip pointer injury symptoms may include:

• Sharp or aching pain along the outer side of the hip
• Swelling and bruising over the iliac crest
• Lateral(outside) hip pain that worsens with movement
• Reduced range of motion in the hip
• Pain that increases with muscle use

Because the abdominal muscles attach near the iliac crest, pain may increase during activities such as:

• Walking
• Coughing or sneezing
• Laughing
• Taking deep breaths

Non-operative treatment

The treatment of a hip pointer injury is almost always non-operative. Rest is the most important part of recovery. Other effective hip pointer treatment options include:

• Applying ice to the injured area several times a day during the first 72 hours
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to reduce pain and swelling
• Physical therapy to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion
• Gradual return to activity as pain improves

Your provider may also recommend exercises to support healing and prevent stiffness.

Below is a PDF of the Exercise Program.

Hip Pointer