What is Femoroacetabular impingement?

What is femoroacetabular hip impingement (FAI)?

Femoroacetabular hip impingement (FAI) can occur for several reasons and often it is a combination of these that contribute to the diagnosis. FAI commonly occurs due to a variation in the bony anatomy and/or a labral tear of the hip joint. There are two types of anatomical variation which can lead to femoroacetabular hip impingement:

A cam lesion – this is an excess of bone on the femoral head/neck
A pincer lesion – this is an excess of bone on the acetabulum of the pelvis.
When one, or both, of these lesions are present, they can cause pinching or impingement of the hip joint structures (mainly the cartilage around the edge of the joint). Over time this impingement of the hip joint can cause pain, especially with prolonged periods of sitting or during and after exercise. A key finding associated with femoroacetabular hip impingement is a labral tear. The labrum is a layer of cartilage which encircles the socket of the hip joint. It is susceptible to damage when repetitive impingement takes place.

What are the symptoms of femoroacetabular hip impingement?

The symptoms of femoroacetabular hip impingement often include the following:

A deep pain at the front of the hip/groin that can radiate to the outside of the hip and even into the buttocks. This can either be felt as a sharp pain, or a dull ache.
Pain is increased with prolonged sitting, standing after sitting, walking and exercise, especially twisting and turning sports such as football.
A general feeling of stiffness in the hip.
A feeling of weakness around the hip.
Clicking and a sensation of giving way are also sometimes reported with femoroacetabular hip impingement.

This video should not serve as a replacement for professional health or medical advice.
Always consult a health professional before starting a new exercise or fitness programme.
Please stop and consult a physiotherapist if these exercises cause you pain.