Hip Impingement — Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Hip impingement is also known as Femoroacetabular impingement. It occurs when the painless, smooth, and free movement of the ball-and-socket hip joint is prevented from occurring. In a normal hip, the rounded top of the thigh bone fits into the hip socket and allows the smooth movement of the femoral head within the socket. The ball and socket are lined with a thin layer of cartilage that protects and acts as a cushion for the bones, preventing them from grinding and rubbing against each other. The femoral head inside the hip socket is kept in place by the rim of the hip socket which is lined with a ridge of cartilage i.e. the labrum.

Types of Hip Impingement

Two main types of hip impingement:

• Cam impingement.
• Pincer impingement.

Cam impingement occurs as the ball-shaped part of the femur is not perfectly round thus preventing the femoral head from moving smoothly within the hip socket.

Pincer impingement occurs due to excessive coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum, which causes the neck of the femoral bone to impinge on the rim of the deep socket, resulting in cartilage and labral damage.

Hip impingement may be caused due to many reasons, a few of them are mentioned below:

• Deformed femoral neck,
• The hip socket covers too much of the femoral head.
• Repetitive impingement of the femur on the rim of the acetabulum leads to cartilage and labral damage.
• Structural abnormality of the ball-and-socket joint during development.
• Repetitive movement of the legs beyond the normal range of motion,
• Occurs mostly in sportspeople like soccer, hockey, football, tennis, golfers, and dancers,
• In certain conditions like Perthes disease and slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

There may be no symptoms in the early stage or symptoms may be mild to vague. Though different symptoms are depending on the type and severity of the condition. These can include:

• Pain in the groin area, after the hip flexion and extension during jumping and running or extended periods sitting down.
• Pain in the hip, groin, or lower back during rest as well as activity.
• Stiffness.
• Reduced range of motion.
• Joint clicking and locking and inability to flex the hip beyond a right angle.

Pathology:

Hip impingement occurs when there are injures to the labrum and articular cartilage, and if left untreated can lead to osteoarthritis. Patients with hip impingement often experience anterolateral hip pain.

Physical Examination:

Physical examination is done to check the range of motion of the hip joint and the presence of impingement.

X-rays:

X-ray is recommended as it produces two-dimensional images of the hip joint.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be recommended to check the three-dimensional image including soft tissue cartilage and labrum.

Computed tomography (CT):

Computed tomography (CT) scan takes small images at different angles and produces a three-dimensional image of the hip. It often shows a detailed structure of joints.

Medication: Anti-inflammatory, analgesics, steroid, etc.

Note: Medication should not be taken without the doctor’s prescription.

Pain management, injections, reducing certain types of physical activity, and physiotherapy can be used for some patients and successfully are helpful to manage hip impingement with these conservative treatments.

Surgery:

Surgical intervention is recommended in some cases like minimally invasive arthroscopic or open surgery. Arthroscopic treatment can correct impingement deformities. But in severe or complicated impingement deformities, open surgery is done for full correction of the deformity. Osteotomy or bone cutting procedure is done to relieve the impingement of the hip joint. The abnormal contact can be reduced or eliminated by properly realigning the joint. Osteoplasty or debridement can be performed to reshape an abnormally shaped femoral head or hip socket. In other cases, total hip replacement can also be performed.

Physiotherapy is an excellent non-surgical treatment for hip impingement or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The treatment depends on the initial assessment. Physiotherapy may include a range of strengthening and stretching exercises tailored to the condition. Other treatment options include:

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS):

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) machines can be used to help decrease hip pain and increase the ability to enjoy everyday activities.

Soft tissue massage:

Soft tissue massage, myofascial and trigger point release like piriformis or gluteal minimus release can be done

Manipulation and mobilization:

Mobilization is used to improve hip flexion and decrease symptoms of hip impingement. These techniques are used to help improve motion, decrease pain, and help move better and more comfortably. Hip mobilization like a distraction, AP glides can be recommended. Other examples are quadriceps soft tissue mobilization, ITB soft tissue mobilization can be done.

Passive stretching hip exercises of hip and pelvis:

Passive stretching like hip flexor stretching, groin stretching, piriformis stretching are recommended stretching exercises.

Strengthening exercises:

Strengthening exercises like seated isometric hip flexion, supine hip flexion with theraband, reverse lunge with front ball tap, or side plank, and core stability exercises can be done.

Kinesio-taping:

Kinesio-taping can be done for modification of the posture e.g thigh into abduction and external rotation.

In case of hip impingement, it is important not to ignore the symptoms and the patient should not continue with the normal activities, as they can make the condition worse. Physiotherapy is usually sufficient to decrease the symptoms but in severe cases, surgical intervention is recommended. The patient is advised to take rest, and do some lifestyle modifications to avoid excessive flexion, adduction, and internal rotation.