While the term Femoroacetabular is quite a mouthful, it is just the clinical name for your hip joint, where the neck of your femur (the long bone of your upper leg) meets the acetabulum of your pelvis. Put simply it is the ball-and-socket complex that makes up your hip joint.
In a healthy person, the hip is a very strong and stable joint, capable of movement in multiple directions, thanks to its unique architecture. Five ligaments hold the joint in place, contributing to its integrity and stability. However, like all joints that are subjected to wear and tear from daily activities, the hip joint can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort when injured.
There are actually two distinct types of FAI, and each has unique characteristics:
Patients typically first become aware of FAI as limited hip mobility. The condition gradually progresses to hip or groin pain, with hip rotation in a sitting position or during sports.
Essentially FAI is a “wear and tear” issue stemming from a number of potential causes, including:
Surgery is an option for FAI to correct the mechanical and pathological changes surrounding the hip’s neck/acetabulum junction. However, because FAI is apparently caused by deficits in strength, range of motion and posture, surgery may not offer a long-term solution for active individuals, unless efforts are made to correct those issues.
Conservative non-invasive physical therapy is often able to resolve FAI without surgical intervention. Therapy should focus on hip mobilization, range of motion and muscle strengthening.
A typical physical therapy protocol for FAI may include:
Therapy strategies should be specifically tailored to the type of FAI, and to the physical activity needs and preferences of the patient.
If you are suffering from limited hip mobility or chronic hip pain, the sports medicine specialists at NYDNRehab can help. We use diagnostic ultrasonography and other diagnostic tools to accurately determine the source of your pain. We then design a treatment protocol to specifically address your condition. Do not continue to live with ongoing hip pain. Contact NYDNR today, and see why we are reputed to be the very best rehab clinic in NYC.
