Athletes that complain of extreme pain in the pelvic girdle with either acute or onset need immediate attention from the athletic trainer in charge, the injuries to this area can be quite seriouse. The most common injury to the pelvis is the soft tissue injury called a hip pointer. Injuries to the pelvic region are quite uncommon except maybe for the hip pointer which is quite painful and can even side line an athlete.
The hip pointer is a contusion to the iliac crest are most frequently caused in football from an opponents helmet spearing the player for example. The athlete is temporarily disabled but it does not cause a permanent disability or damage. Hip pointers may frequently occur in football but we also see them in volleyball, hockey, and basketball.
Even though musculoskeletal injuries around the pelvic girdle are not frequently seen, they do show up occasionally, and athletic trainers who see athletes must be aware that these injuries do occur and exist. The athletic trainer should know how to asses and evaluate these injuries and caculate the severity of the injury to determine whether he/she needs to see a physician.