Alyssa Boyd has always loved horses. A true cowgirl in every sense, she was born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Elko, Nevada—a ranch that has been in her family since 1917.
Boyd began competing in rodeo at just seven years old and has participated in nearly every event. Today, she competes in both amateur and professional barrel racing and breakaway roping across the country. Now 26, she is a seasoned competitor with an impressive track record of success.
Near the end of her high school rodeo career, Boyd began experiencing significant hip pain. Over the following years, the discomfort progressively worsened, eventually making it extremely painful to ride.
“I thought I just had bad hips,” said Boyd. “But then the pain felt deeper in the joint, and I knew I needed to get it checked out.”
In the summer of 2023, Boyd sought care at University of Utah Health, where she was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), also known as hip impingement.
Receiving a diagnosis brought a sense of relief.
“It was reassuring to know I wasn’t imagining it,” she said. “The pain was so severe, I had started to wonder if something else was going on.”
Although she was a candidate for surgery, Boyd initially chose to delay treatment. About a year later, she met with Steve Aoki, MD, Chief of Sports Medicine at University of Utah Health and a specialist in hip preservation surgery.
“Alyssa had hip impingement which caused a labral tear,” said Dr. Aoki. “While it can occur in anyone, we commonly see it in highly active individuals.”
Subtle variations in hip anatomy are often a contributing factor.
“No one has a perfectly shaped hip joint,” Dr. Aoki explained. “However, certain shapes can lead to increased wear and tear over time. Hip preservation surgery addresses both the symptoms and the underlying mechanical issue, and may help prevent early arthritis.”
The procedure involves repairing the labrum—the ring of cartilage surrounding the hip socket—and reshaping the ball-and-socket joint to restore normal mechanics.
“By correcting the underlying structure, we can improve joint function and reduce pain,” said Dr. Aoki. Dr. Aoki performed surgery on Boyd’s right hip on November 13, 2024.
“There was a lot of inflammation in my hip, but the recovery went really well,” Boyd said. Within three months, she was back in the saddle.
“When I started riding again, I realized how good my right hip felt—and how much my left hip still hurt,” she said. “It made me realize just how much pain I had been dealing with.”
After discussing options with Dr. Aoki, Boyd elected to proceed with surgery on her left hip, which was performed on August 1, 2025.
“My labrum was in really bad shape,” she said. “But now I feel great. The recovery has gone really well.”
Hip impingement is relatively common among rodeo athletes, and several of Boyd’s peers have experienced similar issues. While some athletes push through the pain to avoid missing competition, others consider surgical treatment.
Boyd strongly encourages others to seek care—not only for Dr. Aoki’s surgical expertise, but also for his patient-centered approach.
“He takes the time to get to know you and makes you feel comfortable,” she said. “He’s incredibly kind and an excellent surgeon."
Now fully recovered, Boyd is preparing to return to competition on the amateur rodeo circuit, where she will compete in both barrel racing and breakaway roping.
“I’m excited to get back into it,” she said. “I have a young horse that’s coming along really well, and this will be her first-year competing. I think she’s going to do great.”
Boyd plans to return to the professional rodeo circuit in the next one to two years. For now, she is simply grateful to be back doing what she loves.
