Hip impingement: Symptoms, causes and treatment
Mr Akash Patel, leading consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, provides an expert guide to hip impingement and its causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is hip impingement?
Hip impingement, also known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is a condition where the ball-and-socket joint of the hip doesn’t function properly. This occurs when the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum) of the hip joint don't fit together perfectly, causing abnormal contact and pressure on the surrounding tissue, such as the labrum. The labrum is a soft tissue cartilage structure attached around the rim of the socket. It can get torn and contribute to symptoms.
Are there different types of hip impingement?
There are 3 primary types of hip impingement:
- Cam impingement: The most common type, where the femoral head isn’t perfectly round, causing it to bump against the acetabulum.
- Pincer impingement: The acetabulum is too deep, causing the femoral head to hit against the rim of the socket.
- Combined impingement: A combination of cam and pincer impingement.
What symptoms are associated with hip impingement?
Symptoms may include:
- pain in the groin, hip or lower back region
- stiffness and limited mobility in the hip
- pain when sitting, squatting or bending
- a clicking or snapping sensation in the hip
- difficulty walking or putting weight on the affected hip
What are the causes and risk factors for hip impingement?
Causes and risk factors include:
- An abnormal hip shape or structure
- Genetics
- Sports or activities that involve repetitive hip motion (for example, soccer and ballet)
- Trauma or injury to the hip
- Degenerative conditions (for example, osteoarthritis)
What treatment options are available for hip impingement?
Treatment options vary from conservative approaches to surgical intervention:
- Physical therapy: Exercises designed to improve hip mobility and strength.
- Pain management: Medications or orthopaedic injections to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Lifestyle modifications: Avoiding activities that exacerbate symptoms.
- Surgery: Arthroscopy or open surgery to repair the labrum or reshape the hip joint
If you're experiencing symptoms of hip impingement, please contact our team for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
To book an appointment with Mr Patel, head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.