For patients recovering from hip arthroscopy, some sexual positions are safer than others, new research suggests.
After studying 12 common male-female sexual positions, only 4 positions for women and 4 positions for men were considered “safe.”
During a hip arthroscopy procedure, surgeons use a small camera to view and assess hip joint problems. Some hip conditions, such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can be treated in this way.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes FAI as follows:
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition in which extra bone grows along one or both of the bones that form the hip joint — giving the bones an irregular shape. Because they do not fit together perfectly, the bones rub against each other during movement. Over time this friction can damage the joint, causing pain and limiting activity.
After hip arthroscopy, patients may need crutches, walkers, and physical therapy as they recover.
Patients may also need to make adjustments to sexual activities and practices, as some positions and motions can strain the hip joint and affect recovery. However, there is “limited evidence” in this regard.
To learn more about the safety of sexual positions after hip arthroscopy for FAI, a team of researchers identified 12 of the most common positions between men and women. Two volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging while simulating these positions so that virtual 3-dimensional models could be created.
The positions included various man-on-top, woman-on-top, standing, and seated scenarios. The researchers evaluated each position for hip instability or impingements in both the right and left hips. They identified 15 unique male positions and 14 unique female positions.
They determined that 10 out of 15 male positions and 5 out of 14 female positions could cause instability. Excessive external rotation was the most common issue for male positions. For women, excessive abduction was the primary instability concern.
The potential for impingement was found in 5 out of 15 male positions (due to excessive adduction) and 6 out of 14 female positions (due to excessive flexion or internal rotation).
These risks and their repercussions should be discussed with patients before and after surgery, the authors said.
“Patient noncompliance or overly aggressive rehab can compromise the surgical repair,” they wrote, adding that postoperative plans should be tailored specifically to patients.
They noted that the 3-dimensional models were based on a single motion capture session, which does not show movement. They cautioned that their risk estimates might be underestimated for this reason.
The study was published online in February in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Resources
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
“Femoroacetabular Impingement”
(Last reviewed: November 2016)
