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prestidge.com.au

Hip Impingement (FAI)

Hip impingement can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Our personalised treatment plans focus on relieving discomfort, improving hip function, and helping you return to an active, pain-free lifestyle.

Understanding Hip Impingement

Hip impingement (FAI) occurs when the shape of the hip joint causes friction between the bones, leading to pain, stiffness, and cartilage damage over time. There are two main types: Cam impingement (abnormal femoral head shape) and Pincer impingement (overcoverage of the acetabulum). Both can occur together and predominantly affect active adults under 50.

Causes

  • Repetitive hip movements (football, soccer, hockey, tennis, dance, golf)
  • Poor posture and weak hip muscles
  • Flat feet affecting alignment and hip load
  • Structural bony variations present from birth

Symptoms

  • Pain or stiffness in the front of the hip
  • Discomfort when sitting, squatting, or twisting
  • Sharp or catching pain with certain movements
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Pain radiating to the groin or buttock

Diagnosis

Your clinician will assess range of motion, hip strength, and movement patterns. X-ray and MRI may be arranged to confirm the diagnosis and assess cartilage integrity.

Treatment

Physiotherapy and chiropractic care are highly effective and can help avoid surgery in the majority of cases. Treatment focuses on restoring muscle balance, joint mobility, and movement patterns.
  • Manual therapy and joint mobilisation
  • Targeted hip and core strengthening
  • Postural correction and movement education
  • Activity modification and return-to-sport guidance
  • Home exercise program

Rehabilitation & Exercise

Caution: Perform all exercises only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Stop any exercise that increases your pain and inform your practitioner. Exercise programs are tailored to individual needs and must not be self-prescribed.

Rehabilitation for hip impingement focuses on restoring hip strength, mobility, and
neuromuscular control. Your clinician will prescribe a progressive program appropriate to your
stage of recovery.

  • Hip isometric exercises to activate the hip muscles with minimal joint loading
  • Hip strengthening exercises including flexion, abduction, adduction, and extension
  • Hip flexor and abductor stretches to restore range of motion
  • Core and lumbopelvic stability training
  • Gradual return to sport or activity as symptoms allow

Specialist & Regenerative Medicine Options

Where conservative care alone is insufficient, our Prestidge sports and exercise physicians can offer targeted regenerative and specialist treatments to support hip joint health and delay or avoid surgical intervention.

  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy — Image-guided injection delivering concentrated growth factors to the hip joint to support cartilage health and reduce inflammation.
  • Hyaluronic Acid (Viscosupplementation) — Restores joint lubrication to reduce mechanical friction and pain.
  • Corticosteroid Injections — Targeted anti-inflammatory relief to support rehabilitation.
  • Prolotherapy — Strengthens hip ligaments and reduces joint instability.
  • Stem Cell Therapy — Autologous stem cell treatment considered within current TGA guidelines for significant joint degeneration.

Our sports and exercise physicians at Prestidge work alongside your treating clinician to determine the most appropriate option for your condition, goals, and stage of recovery. All injectable and prescription treatments are subject to individual clinical assessment. Visit healthweave.com.au or prestidge.com.au to learn more.

Important: All specialist consultations, prescription treatments, and injectable procedures are subject to individual clinical assessment by a registered medical practitioner. Suitability, benefits, and risks will be discussed at your consultation. No outcomes are guaranteed. Prescription medicines are only available following appropriate medical review in accordance with TGA and AHPRA requirements. Exercise programs should be performed only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Exercise images © CPDO / Educom Pty. Ltd. — used under licence.

Prevention Tips

  • Maintain hip and core strength through regular exercise.
  • Warm up and cool down thoroughly before and after sport.
  • Seek early assessment for hip pain to help prevent progression.