Sports-mad children ‘face hip problems in their 40s’

Children who train intensively or play multiple sports could experience hip problems as early as their 40s, a leading orthopaedic surgeon has warned.

Dr Patrick Carton said there was growing evidence linking regular participation in competitive sports among children as young as eight and hip problems in later life.

“Because of increasing demands and stresses from more and more training sessions being placed on the hip joints at all underage levels, it is expected there will be a major increase in hip-related injury and joint damage, resulting in hip replacements for many of those people as early as 15-20 years later, many still only in their 40s,” said Dr Carton, a specialist in hip and groin surgery at the Whitfield Clinic, Waterford.