Information
Hip Impingement
When the ball of the hip pinches against the socket, causing groin pain and trouble bending the hip.
What is it?
This happens when the ball part of your hip joint pinches against the cup part of the joint (the acetabulum). When this happens, it can damage the rim of cartilage around the socket, called the labrum. Hip impingement will not go away on its own.
Let’s talk about it
Imagine the ball and socket of your hip joint bumping into each other when you move. This can cause a pinching feeling in your groin and make it hard to do certain activities like bending your hip or climbing stairs.
Common symptoms
- Pain or stiffness in the groin or front of the thigh, during or after activity or when sitting for long periods of time
- Difficulty bending the hip beyond a right angle
- Trouble going up stairs
- Limping
- Loss of balance
Treatment options
Treatments can include rest, changing activities, taking medicine to help with swelling, and physical therapy. If the pain doesn’t get better, surgery might be needed.
How it is diagnosed
- Imaging
- Your health history
- A clinical assessment
- Objective findings