Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

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.

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

There are actually two distinct types of FAI, and each has unique characteristics:

CAM Type FAI

• A deformity of the femoral head-neck junction
• Produces consistent intermittent stress on hip joint cartilage
• Seen mostly in younger males, with a mean age of 32
• Male to female ratio of incidence is 14:1

PINCER Type FAI

• An abnormality in the pelvic acetabulum
• Can cause ossification of the acetabular rim, which may lead to deepening of the acetabulum and over-coverage of the femoral head
• Seen mostly in females, with a mean age of 40
• Male to female ratio of incidence is 1:3

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.

Causes of FAI

Essentially FAI is a “wear and tear” issue stemming from a number of potential causes, including:

• Deficient movement mechanics
• Poor postural habits
• Muscle imbalances
• Loose ligaments
• Faulty motor control in the hip and pelvic region
• Weak muscles surrounding the hip and core

Treatment for FAI

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:

• Aerobic exercise
• Balance, coordination, and agility training
• Corrective training to improve body mechanics and posture
• Stretching exercises
• Gait analysis and retraining
• Relaxation therapy
• Strength, power, and endurance training

Therapy strategies should be specifically tailored to the type of FAI, and to the physical activity needs and preferences of the patient.

FAI Treatment in NYC

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.