Squatting and hip pain

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Drs. Feigenbaum and Baraki,

I’m into week five of a SSNLP and I started progressively experiencing discomfort and then mild pain in my right hip the day after squatting, starting in week 4. I’m 45, 6’2" and now 190 lbs. Prior to beginning the SSNLP I ran and trained for road races. In 2014, after experiencing tightness and debilitating pain in my right hip (i.e. had to stop running after a few miles) I was diagnosed with a labral tear and a cam type FAI in my right hip. I’m assuming that the current mild pain I’m getting now after squatting is related to this.

I’m curious what kind of management strategy you would follow here. After originally being diagnosed with the tear and FAI, I stopped running, did PT, worked on my own to build core strength (including high bar squats to what I now realize was above proper depth), changed my running gait somewhat, and through this process was able to gradually start running again with little to no issues with my hip. I’m wondering what might yield similar results in squatting and successfully completing my SSNLP. Thanks in advance for any words of advice.

Cheers,
Mark

2

Have you ever seen a coach? Often times this requires a bit of individualized in-person experimentation with squat stance and bar placement.

3

Thanks for your response, Dr. Baraki. No, haven’t seen a coach, seems like a great idea. Assuming this is something any SSC coach could help with? Also, by bar placement do you mean in the context of a low bar squat or possibly going to high bar if that’s what it takes? Thanks again.

4

Yep, if high bar positioning doesn’t hurt, that would be a good choice.