CE204: Stress Under Pressure: Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of Hip and Pelvic Bone Stress Injuries

The hip/pelvis complex presents a challenging area for diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries due to the significant overlap in a multitude of musculoskeletal, neurovascular, and visceral structures. This phenomenon, coupled with the fact that plain film imaging is often not sensitive enough to detect low-grade injury, can lead to misdiagnosis or improper management of bone stress injuries (BSI) of the hip and pelvis. This can be potentially devastating to the athlete’s long term metabolic and bone health and can significantly affect their ability to participate in sport and life. Physical therapists are uniquely positioned to identify and manage BSIs early because of their regular and direct involvement with athletic populations. This presentation will focus on the recognition of bone stress injuries affecting the hip and pelvic region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion, particularly among high-risk athletes and at high-risk anatomical sites. Evidence-based examination strategies that aid in the early detection of BSIs will be reviewed to enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient understanding. Patient case examples will be integrated throughout the session to illustrate key concepts in the assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of athletes with bone stress injuries involving the hip and pelvis.

Date & Time

November 3, 2026 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Location

Virtual

CEHs

2

Cost

$100 Clinician/$20 Student/Resident

Course Objectives

  • Compare and contrast presentations of bone stress injury sites related to the hip/pelvis complex
  • Examine the significance of anatomical, biomechanical, and systemic risk factors related to the development of hip and pelvis bone stress injuries in athletes
  • Develop key evidence-based criterion of subjective and objective assessments to promote referral for imaging under suspicion of BSI as well as guide clinical decision making related to the plan of care
  • Appraise available return to sport testing considerations and analyze long term implications of BSI

Instructor

Katie Buzza, PT, DPT, SCS

Katie Buzza, PT, DPT, SCS serves as a clinical assistant professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. She practices clinically at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY, treating patients and performing biomechanical running analyses. She enjoys working with a variety of athletes of all levels and sports but has a special interest in hockey players. Her primary clinical interests include the lower extremity (hip and knee), joint instability, bone stress injuries, and biomechanical movement analysis. Professionally, Katie serves on leadership for the AASPT as the Chair for the membership team, as well as serving as an item writer for the SCS exam and a MOSC reviewer. Katie Buzza earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a board-certified specialist in sports physical therapy following completion of a sports residency with Massachusetts General Hospital/Northeastern University. While there, she provided physical therapy services for the MGH Sports PT clinic and Northeastern Division 1 Athletics, as well as engaging in research, teaching and educational opportunities.