Expert Sports Injury
Care in San Diego

For a runner, being told you need hip surgery can raise an immediate question: Will I ever be able to run again? In many cases, the answer is yes. Most runners can return to running within six months of surgery, but that relies on a skillful surgeon guiding your surgery and rehabilitation. 

Continue reading to learn what every runner needs to know about returning to the track after a hip labral repair, including where to find the best hip surgeon in Southern California.

What Determines Whether You Can Run Again After Hip Labral Repair?

A runner who can walk without pain is not necessarily ready to run. Running places repeated loads through the hip while the body balances on one leg. Because of this, strength, pelvic control, and movement quality become important checkpoints before impact activity resumes.

The condition of your hip before surgery and the procedures performed during surgery both influence your recovery. Additional factors that can affect your return to running include:

• The size and location of the labral tear
• Whether the labrum can be repaired or requires reconstruction
• Whether FAI is present
• Whether cartilage damage is treated
• Whether the hip capsule requires repair or tightening
• Your strength and conditioning before surgery
• Your gait and movement patterns
• Your response to physical therapy
• Whether you experience pain, swelling or compensatory symptoms during progression
• The distance, speed and terrain you want to return to

When Should You Start Running After Hip Labral Repair?

Many hip surgery patients begin a return-to-running progression around three months after surgery, but there is no universal date that applies to every runner. Before starting the running progression, the best orthopedic surgeon in Southern California will have patients demonstrate the ability to walk normally and have good range of motion in the hip. A typical recovery progression may look something like this:

How Is Running Rehabilitation Different From Regular Hip Rehabilitation?

Running is a high-repetition activity where every stride requires the hip to absorb force, stabilize the pelvis, and transfer energy through the leg. That means rehabilitation for a runner needs to progress differently than someone who doesn’t run. 

Early rehabilitation generally focuses on protecting repaired tissue, restoring appropriate range of motion, and preventing weakness. As healing progresses, strengthening and neuromuscular training become more important. Later stages can introduce running-specific drills, plyometrics, and gradual impact loading. For runners, rehabilitation may include:

• Glute and hip strengthening
• Core stabilization
• Single-leg balance and control
• Gait retraining
• Squatting and step-down movements
• Running mechanics
• Plyometric drills
• Gradual impact exposure
• Walk-run intervals
• Progressive increases in distance
• Sport-specific conditioning

What Happens During Hip Labral Surgery?

The goal of surgical treatments is to protect the joint, restore stability, and improve function so patients can return to physical activity and activities of daily living pain-free. A hip labral surgical procedure is typically performed using hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive form of orthopedic surgery that allows the surgeon to examine and treat the joint through small incisions. A camera is inserted into the hip, allowing the surgeon to evaluate the labrum, cartilage, and hip socket and identify structural problems that may be contributing to symptoms.

The exact surgical techniques depend on what is found inside the joint. If the labrum is too damaged to repair, reconstruction may be considered. When hip impingement is contributing to the labral injury, the surgeon may also reshape abnormal bone to reduce the source of irritation.

Can Orthobiologics Help Recovery After Hip Labral Surgery?

Orthobiologic treatments include treatments such as growth factors or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which uses concentrated components of a patient's own blood. They are considered part of an individualized treatment plan rather than a shortcut around rehabilitation. The goal of regenerative therapies like PRP is to support the body's healing response. 

Finding the Best Hip Surgeon in Southern California

A runner needs a different rehabilitation strategy from someone whose primary goal is simply returning to comfortable daily activities. This is why choosing an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip preservation surgery is so important. Dr. Sanjum Samagh is an expert in orthopedic sports surgery training, with specialized fellowship experience in hip arthroscopy and work with professional, Olympic, and recreational athletes. During fellowship, he served as an assistant team physician for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Northwestern's Big Ten football team and as a medical adviser to the NBA Draft. 

These credentials are why patients across Encinitas, Leucadia, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Torrey Pines, and throughout North San Diego County and Southern California come to San Diego Performance Orthopedics & Regenerative Therapy.

Ready to trust your care to the best hip surgeon in Southern California for a hip-preserving surgery and rehabilitation?