Northwest Texas Sports Medicine
3501 Soncy Suite 121 Amarillo, Texas 79119
Phone 806-354-2627 Fax: 806-354-7989 Email: staff@nwtsportsmed.com

Northwest Texas Sports Medicine Center presents the following information for educational purposes only. It should not be used in place of proper medical evaluation and treatment.
Topics: Sprains, Strains, and Contusions

What is a Hip Pointer?

WHAT IS A HIP POINTER?

The term "hip pointer" refers to when an athlete has a contusion to the iliac crest.
  • The iliac crest is located at the top ridge of your hip. When you place your hands on your hips, you are placing them on your iliac crests.

  • When an athlete receives a direct blow to an unprotected iliac crest, it can cause a pinching of the soft tissue that attaches at that location. The muscles that attach on to the iliac crest are the sartorius, rectus femoris, and rectus abdominis.

  • The sartorius muscle is responsible for hip flexion and external rotation of the hip. The rectus femoris muscle is responsible for knee extension and hip flexion. The rectus abdominis muscle is responsible for trunk flexion and rotation.

  • This injury will cause spasm, pain, and tenderness along the soft tissue at the iliac crest.

  • This injury will also cause painful hip flexion, trunk flexion and rotation on the injured side.

  • Referral to an orthopedic or family physician is necessary for x-rays and proper evaluation. The symptoms of a hip pointer injury are also similar to those of an epiphyseal (growth plate) separation or a fracture of the iliac crest. Therefore, proper diagnosis from a physician is necessary.
Topics: Sprains, Strains, and Contusions

What is a Hip Pointer?

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