Being told you have a hip labral tear or CAM morphology can be worrying, particularly when you're experiencing pain and wondering what it means for your future.

You might have been advised to stop running, avoid certain movements, strengthen your glutes or consider surgery. Perhaps you've been left questioning whether your hip will ever feel normal again. I understand those concerns because I've experienced bilateral hip labral tears and CAM morphology myself.

I've had to navigate the symptoms, understand my own body and find a way to return to the activities I enjoy. That experience has shaped both my clinical approach and the way I support people dealing with similar diagnoses.

My own experience changed the way I look at hip pain

I've had structural findings in both hips, yet my experience has reinforced something I believe is fundamental to rehabilitation: what appears on a scan doesn't automatically determine how you feel or what you're capable of doing.

At one stage, my right hip symptoms were severe enough to stop me running and disrupt my sleep. My left hip showed similar structural findings, yet I experienced no symptoms on that side.

Today, I run half marathons frequently, strength train, and have completed Hyrox and the 2026 London Marathon without hip symptoms. I'm not sharing this to suggest that everyone with a labral tear can avoid surgery, or that structural changes never matter. Every person and every hip is different.

I'm sharing it because I've experienced firsthand the difference between what imaging shows and how a hip actually functions. It's a big reason why I don't want anyone to believe their scan is a complete prediction of their future.

How I approach hip labral tears

The hip doesn't work in isolation, and neither should its rehabilitation.

My assessment considers your symptoms, history, hip mobility and strength, alongside how your pelvis, trunk, foot and lower limb contribute to movement.

We'll explore the positions and activities that currently challenge you, whether that's deep squatting, sitting, running, lifting, changing direction or playing sport.

I'll consider how you manage load, how your body moves through different positions and where we may be able to improve strength, control and movement options.

Labral tears and CAM morphology can be relevant to your symptoms, but they don't automatically explain every problem. Where appropriate, I'll also help you understand when further medical assessment or a surgical opinion may be needed.

Building a hip that can do more

Your rehabilitation is individual to you. Depending on your presentation, it may include:

  • Finding ways to move and train without repeatedly aggravating your symptoms.
  • Progressively strengthening the muscles around the hip, including the glutes, hip flexors and adductors where relevant.
  • Exploring how your pelvis, trunk and lower limb contribute to movement.
  • Adapting training demands while maintaining as much appropriate activity as possible.
  • Building towards running, lifting, jumping and sport-specific demands as your capacity improves.

I've experienced the frustration of hip pain, the uncertainty that comes with imaging and the feeling that a diagnosis might dictate what you can and cannot do. My own progress has strengthened my belief in looking beyond the label, understanding the individual and exploring what is possible rather than immediately accepting limitations based on a scan alone.

I know what it's like to have bilateral hip labral tears and CAM morphology. I also know that those findings don't have to define your symptoms, your identity or your future.

My role is to help you understand your hip, make informed decisions and work towards your goals with a plan built around your body, your circumstances and your ambitions.