Hip Impingement

The symptoms of Hip Impingement are:

• Groin pain sometimes referring into the thigh.
• Pain on weight bearing, putting on shoes & socks, crossing legs.
• Pain with running, twisting on the hip.
• Weakness or decreased balance on that leg.
• Increasing ‘tightness’ at the front of the hip.

The hip can have some ‘design’ differences which result in the ball (femoral head) not moving fully or fluently in the socket (acetabulum). As a result the hip can ‘pinch’ surrounding tissue, bone or its labrum resulting in Hip Impingent or Femoro-acetabula Impingement. This can occur in all age groups from those who are very mobile, to those that have stiffness in their hips.

• Commencing a good pain management plan. A painful hip will have less chance of responding to exercise.
• Hip/Gluteal stability exercises to strengthen the hip and pelvic muscles. These need specific and careful instruction. We recommend an individual assessment of how to perform the correct hip strengthening exercises.
• If you have been injured at work or in sport, our practitioners have approved conditioning programs for your Hip Impingement Injury that will get you back on track sooner. This may need management for your whole season of sport and your Physiotherapist will give you guidelines for training porgession.  Your Physiotherapist may also recommend Pilates, Massage Therapy or Acupuncture to assist in reducing pain and improving movement and balance as often your hip tendons and muscles become painful with Hip Impingment.
• Your practitioner may refer you to a Sports Physician for further investigations if your Hip Impingement does not respond in our suggested time frames. Sometimes surgery is necessary for a functional recovery.
• Walking with a limp is not advised and you must consult a Professional Immediately.