What is Hip Impingement and How Do We Treat It?

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What is Hip Impingement and How Do We...

What is Hip Impingement and How Do We Treat It?

Hip impingement, medically referred to as Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), involves abnormal contact between the thigh bone (femur) and the hip socket (acetabulum). Some cases require surgery while others can be managed successfully with physical therapy. Patients often present with groin, hip or buttocks pain with clicking/catching/locking and decreased range of motion. This can result in difficulty performing daily activities and/or sports.

Physical Therapy treatment includes:

Joint mobilizations to improve the flexibility of the hip joint
Soft tissue mobilizations to improve the flexibility of the surrounding hip muscles
Stretching/mobility exercises to improve flexibility of the hip capsule
Dry needling to reduce pain and muscle tension
Techniques and exercises to improve mobility at neighboring joints to compensate for hip flexibility impairments

Physical Therapy Treatment for Hip Labral Tears

Hip labral tears occur when the labrum, a band of cartilage surrounding the hip joint, is irritated. Labral injuries can occur after trauma or as a result of repetitive stress to the hip joint.

Physical Therapy Treatment for ITB Syndrome

IT (Iliotibial) band syndrome is a non-traumatic overuse injury that can result in pain at either the outside of the hip or knee. IT band syndrome is common in runners and endurance athletes.

Physical Therapy Treatment for Hip Tendonitis/Tendinopathy

Hip tendonitis can affect multiple tendons attaching to the hip. Although the term “tendinitis” indicates the presence of inflammation (“itis” means “inflamed”), newer research indicates that the main driver of tendon pain comes from non-inflammatory pathologies known as tendinopathies.