Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooHip Dislocation

Hip dislocations occur when the head of the thigh bone (the ball) is forced out of its socket in the pelvis. You can think of it like the ball coming out of the "ball and socket" joint. It usually takes a major force to dislocate a hip (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). In roughly 90 percent of cases, the thigh bone is pushed out of the socket backwards (a posterior dislocation), which leaves the knee and foot rotated in towards the middle of the body. The bone can also slip out of the socket forwards (an anterior dislocation). When that happens, the hip will be bent only slightly, and the knee and foot will turn out and away from the middle of the body (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). Hip dislocations are extremely painful, and people are usually not able to move the leg. If a nerve is damaged, there may be no feeling in the foot or ankle (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).

Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of a hip dislocation, often when the knee hits the dashboard. Wearing your seatbelt greatly reduces the risk (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). A fall from a height (such as from a ladder) or an industrial accident can also generate enough force to dislocate the hip, and less often it happens from a collision in sports such as football or hockey (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). With a hip dislocation, other injuries are often present, such as broken bones in the pelvis and legs (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). A hip can also dislocate after a hip replacement; this is uncommon, and the risk is greatest in the first few months after surgery while the tissues heal (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).

Hip Dislocation Anatomy

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Rehab

Tips

• Contact sports where hard collisions can happen, such as football or hockey, can occasionally cause a hip dislocation (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).
• Falls from a height, such as from a ladder, can generate enough force to dislocate the hip, so take care when working at height (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).
• If you have had a hip replacement, follow any precautions your surgeon and physiotherapist give you for sitting, bending and sleeping, especially in the first few months (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).
• If you have difficulty walking, moving or standing after an injury, get it checked by a medical professional.
• Always rehabilitate after a hip dislocation, as other structures such as ligaments, muscles or the labrum may also have been damaged (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).
• Keep your follow-up appointments. Possible longer-term problems include injury to the sciatic nerve (in around 10% of people), loss of blood supply to the ball of the hip (osteonecrosis) and arthritis (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).

After a hip dislocation, your medical team decides how far you can move the hip and how much weight it can take while it heals. I work inside those limits. If you had surgery or a fracture, or you can't yet manage your normal daily activities, I need your team's okay before we start hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

While the Hip Is Protected

• Easing the low back and other leg, and your arms and shoulders if you're on crutches or a walker
• Gentle lymphatic drainage to help with swelling
• Gentle ankle, knee and hip exercises, as your team allows
• Setting up your walking aids and practising walking with them

As Your Team Allows More

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.a) Hip dislocation. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-dislocation/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
2. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.b) Total hip replacement. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-hip-replacement/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).