Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

Common Symptoms

• Deep groin or front-of-hip pain
• Pinching or catching with deep squatting, sitting low, or hip flexion
• Reduced hip range, especially internal rotation
• Discomfort with rotational or cutting movements
• Pain that may build through training and ease with rest

What May Contribute

FAI symptoms are shaped by hip anatomy, how the hip is used, and the demands of the activity.

• Hip joint shape that reduces clearance during deep flexion or rotation
• Reduced hip and trunk strength relative to the demands of the sport or activity
• Movement patterns that load the hip into provocative positions repeatedly
• Sudden increase in training volume or intensity
• Periods of low movement variability followed by demanding activity

How Form and Function Approaches This

A finding of FAI on imaging is not a verdict. We focus on what your hip can currently tolerate and how to expand that capacity, rather than treating an anatomical label.

• A thorough mechanical and functional assessment to identify what is driving symptoms
• A care plan that may combine hands-on care, movement, education, and recovery strategies based on your presentation
• Clear reasoning at each step, so you understand what we are doing and why
• Coordination with medical providers when imaging, medication, or specialist input would be helpful

Read more about our overall approach to care.

Treatment Options May Include

• Education about what FAI does and does not mean
• Progressive strength work for the hip, trunk, and glutes
• Movement retraining for squatting, hinging, and rotation to reduce time spent in pinch positions
• Manual therapy for the hip capsule and surrounding tissue to reduce pinching in deep flexion
• Activity and training modifications during higher-symptom periods
• Coordination with a hip-preservation surgeon if conservative care plateaus and function remains limited

How This Condition Is Commonly Diagnosed

FAI is diagnosed by the combination of symptoms, examination, and imaging that confirms the bony morphology.

• History of symptom behavior, sport, and training demands
• Hip range-of-motion and provocation testing
• Strength assessment for the hip, trunk, and surrounding muscles
• Imaging interpreted alongside the clinical picture, as FAI morphology is common in people without pain

Expected Recovery and Prognosis

Many people with FAI symptoms improve significantly with a structured rehab plan, often returning to demanding sport and training.

Surgical consultation has a clear role when symptoms are severe and not responding to a well-executed conservative plan, but it is not the default first step.

Related Conditions

• Labral Pathology
• Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
• Adductor-Related Groin Pain

Related Services

• Movement-Based Rehabilitation
• Sport-Specific Rehabilitation
• Chiropractic Care

When Symptoms May Require Emergency Medical Evaluation

• Sudden or progressive weakness
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness in the groin or saddle region
• Fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss
• Severe trauma or suspected fracture
• Persistent night pain or rapidly worsening symptoms
• Shortness of breath, chest pain, or other non-musculoskeletal symptoms
• Symptoms that are severe, spreading, or not improving as expected

These symptoms are uncommon, but they can indicate conditions that may require urgent medical evaluation. If you are unsure whether your symptoms fit this category, Form and Function can help guide appropriate next steps or referrals when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions