What is hip impingement? Hip impingement is when extra bone grows along the acetabulum (socket), the femoral head (ball) or both. This bony growth changes the shape of the hip joint and causes a lot of friction and thus irritation to the joint. Pain, decreased mobility and pain with activity can all be caused by hip impingement. For a detailed list of other causes of hip pain, refer to our general hip pain blog.
Types of Hip Impingement
There are three kinds of hip impingement, based upon where the bone growth occurs:
Pincer: Extra bone growth on the rim of the acetabulum. The labrum can be impacted.
CAM: Extra bone growth on the femoral head, changing shape of the ball.
Combined: both types of impingement are present.
Hip impingement typically occurs during childhood as the pelvic bones and leg bones develop. Although this may feel discouraging, it's important to note that people with hip impingement may have little to no symptoms, and thus can perform all desired activities without pain..
How can physical therapy help hip impingement?
In previous blogs, we described muscle dysfunctions as having a structural or functional cause. Structural suggests irritation/change to the bone, while functional suggests change to the muscle tissue. As physical therapists, we cannot affect the structure of your hip after the skeleton is fully matured, but we can manage the tension within the muscles, connective tissue and nerves surrounding the joint. Often times, management of these structures reduces pain and improves function.
If you attempted physical therapy to the best of your ability and didn't get the relief you need, try consulting with an orthopedic surgeon to determine next steps. Your orthopedist may suggest injections with physical therapy to improve progress or surgery to correct the structural changes. It's important to discuss the pros and cons of both options and determine what is best for your and your current needs.
Sports physical therapy and physical therapy for hip impingement in Brookhaven and Atlanta, GA
Hip impingement can result in symptoms that feel debilitating, but physical therapy can help! If you're an athlete, our sports physical therapists at Glackin Physiotherapy can assist you with your orthopedic rehabilitation! If you have hip pain related to impingement reach out to our office today!
