If you’ve been experiencing deep groin pain, stiffness in the hip or discomfort when sitting or exercising, hip impingement could be the cause. Also known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), it’s a condition that affects many people – especially active adults – but often goes undiagnosed for some time.
In this post, we’ll explore what hip impingement is, why it happens and how it can be treated effectively.
What is hip impingement?
Hip impingement occurs when the bones of the hip joint don’t fit together as smoothly as they should. Instead of moving freely, they rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation and sometimes damage to the joint.
There are two main types:
- Cam impingement – where the ball of the hip is not perfectly round and grinds against the socket
- Pincer impingement – where the socket covers too much of the ball, leading to pinching during movement
- Many people have a combination of both
Over time, this abnormal contact can wear down cartilage, leading to labral tears and increasing the risk of early arthritis if left untreated.
What does it feel like?
Hip impingement often starts with subtle symptoms that gradually worsen. Common signs include:
- A deep ache or sharp pain in the groin, especially after activity
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the hip
- Discomfort when sitting for long periods or getting in/out of a car
- Clicking or catching sensations in the joint
- Pain during activities like running, squatting or twisting
If you’re young or middle-aged and struggling with these symptoms, it’s worth getting checked – especially if you’re active or have a history of hip issues.
What causes it?
Some people are born with slightly irregular hip shapes that predispose them to impingement. In others, it can develop over time due to high-impact activity, repeated movements or previous injury.
It’s more common in athletes and individuals who regularly take part in activities involving deep hip flexion – such as football, hockey, dance or martial arts.
How is it diagnosed?
A specialist orthopaedic surgeon will take a full history and perform a physical examination to assess your hip movement and symptoms. Imaging – such as X-rays or an MRI scan – is often used to confirm the diagnosis and check for any damage to the labrum or cartilage.
Mr Shah uses advanced diagnostic tools to assess hip joint function and identify the precise cause of your pain.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and any underlying damage.
Non-surgical options may include:
- Physiotherapy to improve hip strength and mobility
- Activity modification to reduce painful movements
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Image-guided steroid injections for pain relief
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may help improve pain in some patients. While clinical evidence is mixed and this treatment is not currently approved by NICE guidelines, there is some emerging research suggesting PRP may have potential benefits in certain cases
If symptoms persist despite conservative treatment, surgery may be recommended to address the underlying cause of hip pain and impingement. The most common option is hip arthroscopy – a minimally invasive procedure that allows Mr Shah to reshape the joint, remove damaged tissue and relieve impingement through small keyhole incisions. Recovery is often quicker than with traditional open surgery, with many patients returning to sport or full activity after rehabilitation.
In selected cases, where there is significant structural abnormality in the hip joint, an osteotomy may be more appropriate. This procedure involves realigning the joint to correct its shape, helping to reduce impingement and potentially delay the progression of arthritis.
Don’t ignore ongoing hip pain
While occasional discomfort can be part of an active lifestyle, persistent hip pain shouldn’t be ignored. Hip impingement is a treatable condition – and early intervention can help prevent further joint damage and improve long-term mobility.
If you’re concerned about hip pain, book a consultation with Mr Nirav Shah to receive an expert diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to your needs.
