Could a deformed femoral head limit hip mobility/ROM?

While I understand no one here is a doctor, it seems a lot of people are well informed about these issues, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask before I go to a new doctor in a few weeks.

I have Perthes disease in my left hip (http://www.pediatric-orthopedics.com/Topics/Perthes/perthes.html), and have always had a tightness there. I always just associated it with my condition, and not anything to do with hip flexibility / mobility. The past 2 months that I've been working with the program here, it's really been brought to my attention just how little mobility I have in my left hip (and has led me to find an orthopedist after not having gone since I was 15 -- 10 years ago).

I've never been able to sit indian style, because my left hip won't allow it. My butterfly stretch is terrible because my hip won't allow it. My right side is fine, so I've always believed the problem was my deformed left femoral head. But, maybe it isn't? I tried doing this test (at the 1:10 mark

) -- where you cross your leg and push down. My right side, I can get down, but my left will not budge. I can't feel if it's a muscle issue, or simply that my joint is locked and can't go anywhere else.

I think I'm just looking for someone else's thoughts on the issue. I've been of the mindset I can't do certain things because of my condition, but I'm starting to think it's just a bunch of tight muscles in my left hip.

This is very interesting. After reading the page on Perthes, its clear that yes there will be impaired function, that's just a fact of life. It doesn't sound anywhere near severe enough to consider surgery at your age though.

I think its great that you are seeing an orthopedist as they will have access to your full history and the extent of the Perthes, without that its impossible to give any answers.

Of course that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't work on mobility, i'd venture to say its even more important in your case. You just have to realize that the hips will not be the same and not try to force that. If it feels like you hit a rock, well that's quite likely the amount of movement that your bone structure will allow.