Hip Impingement (FAI) in Athletes: What It Is and How It's Treated

Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, is the most common structural reason young athletes develop deep groin pain. It happens when extra bone on the femoral head-neck junction (cam), the socket rim (pincer), or both, causes abnormal contact during hip motion.

What athletes notice

• Deep groin pain with squatting, cutting or hip flexion
• Stiffness or a catching sensation
• Pain that worsens with sport and eases with rest
• Difficulty sitting for long periods or getting in and out of a car

Why it matters

Repeated contact between bone and labrum gradually damages the labrum and the cartilage behind it. Treating the mechanics early protects the joint surface, which is the part of the hip that cannot be replaced without a replacement.

How it is treated

Many athletes improve with activity modification, targeted physical therapy focused on the deep hip rotators and core, and selective injections that also help confirm the diagnosis. When structural damage is present and symptoms persist, hip arthroscopy can reshape the bone, repair the labrum and restore normal clearance.

Recovery is criteria-based: crutches for two to four weeks, running around three to four months, and full return to cutting or contact sport typically between four and six months.