Hip Impingement Treatment
The ball and socket design of the hip joint allows for a large range of motion for the legs. Unfortunately, if either the ball or socket is slightly misshapen, it can impact how smoothly the joint can move. Hip impingement can occur when the femoral head or pelvic bone socket have abnormalities, creating friction and rubbing against the labrum and cartilage. Our orthopedic specialists at DOCS Health perform hip impingement treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
Hip impingement is also referred to as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and it is often present from birth. The femoral head, the acetabular socket or both can be misshapen from genetics or due to bone formation during growth. Often the humeral head will be oval instead of round or the acetabular socket will be large, or a combination of both. When the ball moves within the socket, it can pinch the labrum or cartilage, causing hip inflammation and damage.
Symptoms of Hip Impingement
Some people have FAI, or hip impingement, without any noticeable symptoms. However, even without symptoms, the condition may be damaging the labrum, which could lead to osteoarthritis and pain down the road. For those who do experience symptoms, it is usually in the form of stiffness and pain in the hip, groin or front of the upper thigh. The pain can worsen when bending forward at the hip or waist, like when riding a bike or putting on footwear.
Hip impingement treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and damage to the labrum. Rest, anti-inflammatory medications and restricting certain movements can help minimize pain and damage for those with mild symptoms. For more severe cases, surgical treatment can be used to reshape the bone and repair damaged labrum.
If you suffer from symptoms of hip impingement, or FAI, contact our experienced orthopedic team at DOCS Health. We can help you explore hip impingement treatment options at our orthopedic clinic in Los Angeles.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.