Hip Impingement

What is Hip Impingement?

Hip impingement, also known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when there is abnormal contact between the ball and socket of your hip joint during movement. This condition involves structural abnormalities that cause the bones to rub against each other, leading to damage of the cartilage and labrum (the ring of cartilage around the hip socket).

There are three types of hip impingement: CAM impingement (extra bone on the femoral head), Pincer impingement (extra bone coverage of the acetabulum), and Mixed impingement (combination of both). Without proper management, hip impingement can lead to early arthritis and significant functional limitations.

What Causes Hip Impingement?

Hip impingement typically results from structural and functional factors:

Structural causes:

  • Abnormal bone shape development during growth

  • Extra bone formation on the femoral head (CAM lesion)

  • Excessive bone coverage of the hip socket (Pincer lesion)

  • Previous hip injuries or fractures

  • Genetic predisposition to bone shape variations

Activity-related factors:

  • Repetitive hip flexion activities during adolescent growth

  • Sports involving deep hip flexion (football, martial arts, dancing)

  • Activities requiring extreme range of motion

  • Poor movement patterns and biomechanics

  • Muscle imbalances around the hip joint

Risk factors:

  • Participation in sports during skeletal development

  • Male athletes (higher risk for CAM impingement)

  • Female athletes (higher risk for Pincer impingement)

  • Previous hip or groin injuries

  • Family history of hip problems

  • Certain occupations requiring repetitive hip movements

High-risk activities:

  • Football, rugby, hockey

  • Ballet and contemporary dance

  • Martial arts and gymnastics

  • Deep squatting activities

  • Running with poor biomechanics

What Are the Symptoms?

Hip impingement symptoms often develop gradually and can be subtle initially:

Primary symptoms:

  • Deep, aching pain in the groin or front of the hip

  • Pain that worsens with hip flexion activities

  • Stiffness and reduced range of motion in the hip

  • Sharp pain with certain movements or positions

Activity-related symptoms:

  • Pain when sitting for prolonged periods

  • Discomfort when getting in and out of low cars

  • Pain during deep squatting or lunging movements

  • Difficulty with activities requiring hip flexion (putting on shoes and socks)

  • Pain during or after sporting activities

Functional symptoms:

  • Reduced performance in sports requiring hip mobility

  • Compensatory movement patterns affecting back and knee

  • Feeling of the hip "catching" or "locking"

  • Gradual onset of symptoms over months or years

  • Morning stiffness that may improve with gentle movement

Progressive symptoms:

  • Increasing frequency and intensity of pain episodes

  • Reduced tolerance for physical activity

  • Night pain in advanced cases

  • Weakness in hip muscles due to pain inhibition

Experiencing hip pain or stiffness? Our specialist team has extensive experience treating complex hip conditions in professional athletes across multiple sports, including dancers, martial artists, and football players. We provide comprehensive assessment, targeted treatment programmes, and movement analysis to address both structural and functional aspects of hip impingement.