Hip impingement (FAI):↓

Hip impingement refers to changes on the bony surfaces of the hip joint resulting in pinching of the soft tissue (labrum or capsule). There are 2 types of impingement, Cam and Pincer. The hip is a ball and socket joint. Cam-type describes when the ball (head of the femur bone) is misshapen or overgrown and a Pincer-type describes when the socket (acetabulum) is deepened due to overgrown bone or irregular shape of the socket. Symptoms may include deep ache, sharp pain with cutting activities, getting up from a chair, running or jumping. The C-sign is when your pain location is in the shape of a “C”, from the front to the side of the hip, like cupping the hip with your hand. This sign is usually indicative of hip joint pain.

Physical therapy can help to assess your specific symptoms and pain levels. Because the hip and lower back are linked together by soft tissue, a full assessment of both areas will take place. Treatment of hip impingement will involve strengthening exercises to improve muscles around the hip and back in order to better protect the hip. Treatment may also include stretches and mobilization techniques/manual therapy to reduce your pain, increase your mobility and get you back to your normal activities.

Labral Tears ↓

Hip impingement can be a variable that leads to labral tears. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the socket of the hip joint. Its main function is to provide stability and shock absorption to the hip. A tear develops when the load through the hip joint is more than the tissue can handle, typically seen with repetitive loading as in distance running or sports which involve twisting and cutting. Once the labrum is torn, it will not heal itself, but this also DOES NOT require surgery. The first line of action is treatment from a physical therapist.

Physical therapy can help to evaluate your hip mobility, strength and function. Treatments will likely involve stretches for the soft tissue/muscles which are tight, mobilization techniques/manual interventions addressing areas of decreased mobility and strengthening of weakened muscles. All of this to improve the muscular support system around the hip and decrease the load transmitted through the joint itself.

Do I need surgery?↓

Depends, the large majority of cases do not require surgery despite positive findings on MRI or imaging. Most will resolve with conservative treatment a.k.a physical therapy. During your initial evaluation and even during follow up visits, your physical therapist will educate you on how physical therapy can help with you specific symptoms and whether or not you’ll require a consultation with a surgeon.

How can physical therapy help? ↓

Because the symptoms and pain are individual, each patient will have a different presentation at therapy. A physical therapist will do a thorough medical history review including gathering all the information about your current pain levels, current functional deficits and how this impacts your daily activities. A movement assessment will be performed including observation of activities such as walking or getting in/out of a chair as well as movements specific to your pain location and symptoms. With this information your physical therapist can develop a personalized treatment plan to help relieve your back pain and get you back to your normal routine. Your physical therapist will likely prescribe a combination of exercises, stretches and activities to avoid while you’re recovering as well as advise you on how to resume activities once you find relief.

Common Treatments↓

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