Hip Impingement: Why your hip hurts during movement?
Something as simple as sitting, squatting or bending down to tie your shoes shouldn’t hurt- but if these everyday movement triggers discomfort in your hip, it is giving you a signal.
One such condition is hip impingement- a mechanical issue with the hip joint that develops over a period of time and is frequently missed.
To understand why this happens, let’s first look at what hip impingement actually is.
WHAT IS HIP IMPINGEMENT?
Hip impingement (femoro-acetabular impingement) is abnormal contact between the acetabular rim and the femoral head.
It is recognised as a common aetiology of hip pain in athletes, adolescents and adults.
It injures the labrum, articular cartilage and may lead to hip osteoarthritis if left untreated.
Types of Hip Impingements
Pincer type: when the acetabulum covers the femoral head excessively causing pinching during movement.
Cam type: When the femoral head is not round enough, it leads to rubbing of head against acetabulum.
Mixed type: when both pincer and cam type abnormalities are found in the same hip
Clinical presentation Of Hip Impingement
- It usually presents as chronic, deep and dull anterior groin pain
- The pain aggravates with high flexion angles, loaded position like squats or rotational movement during sports
- Simple function activities like getting in and out of car aggravates pain due to loaded rotational movement while in flexion
Management Of Hip Impingement
This hip condition can be managed conservatively or surgically depending upon the severity of the condition and the symptoms portrayed by the patient.
The pain can be managed conservatively with physiotherapy that includes pain management and progressive strengthening of the lower extremity and core in order to return to the maximum functional capabilities.
Individuals with persistent pain even after conservative management are usually referred to orthopaedics for surgical intervention.
The main aim of the surgical approach is to improve the fluidity of the motion between femoral head and acetabulum and involves arthroscopic surgeries.
Key Takeaway
Hip impingement is a chronic mechanical condition of hip that commonly remains undiagnosed until pain appears. It is a congenital problem in the hip joint and usually occurs in young individuals and athletes due to high demand on the joint. The pain aggravates with basic functional activities involving flexion and/or rotation. The late diagnosis of the condition may lead to early onset of hip osteoarthritis in young adults, hence early intervention is important.
If you are struggling with hip pain or stiffness, a tailored physiotherapy approach can make a real difference. Reach out to our clinic to get started.