Hip impingement (FAI): groin or hip pain with deep bending and twisting
What femoroacetabular impingement is, which movements it tends to affect, and what the NHS says about managing it with and without surgery.
Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, is when extra bone on the thigh bone, the hip socket or both causes the joint surfaces to rub, giving pain and stiffness over time. A hospital leaflet describes three types (cam, pincer and combined). It is a common cause of hip and groin pain in active people, but many people with the shape never have trouble.
When to get urgent help
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have any of these. They can be signs of a fracture, infection, blood clot or other emergency.
- A limb that looks deformed, or a joint that you cannot move or put weight on after an injury
- A cold, pale or numb foot or hand after injury
- A hot, red, swollen joint with a high temperature
- A painful, swollen, warm calf, with or without breathlessness or chest pain
What it can feel like
- Pain usually felt in the groin, sometimes the outer hip, thigh or buttock
- Stiffness or reduced movement, especially bending the hip deeply
- Pain with twisting, squatting, deep bending or sport
- Clicking, catching or locking, and sometimes a feeling of weakness or instability
Common contributors
- Extra bone growth that may develop during childhood or adolescence, and the shape of the hip you were born with
- Repetitive hip movement in sports such as football, hockey, dancing and martial arts
- Injuries or conditions such as hip dysplasia
- Gradual wear and tear, which can lead to cartilage damage or arthritis
General self-care
These are general comfort measures many people find reasonable. They are not a treatment plan, and what suits one person may not suit another.
- The leaflet suggests activity modification: avoid movements that clearly aggravate it, such as deep squats, lunges, jumping and rowing machines
- Low-impact exercise such as swimming is suggested as an alternative
- Hip strengthening and movement exercises, ideally guided by a physiotherapist, are the usual first treatment
- Painkillers such as paracetamol, or anti-inflammatory gels, can be discussed with a pharmacist or GP
When to see your GP
See your GP promptly, or call NHS 111, if you have any of the following:
- Pain after a significant injury, fall or twist
- Pain that is constant, severe or getting worse, or wakes you at night
- Unexplained weight loss, fever or feeling generally unwell with limb pain
Consider seeing your GP if:
- Hip or groin pain that is not improving after a few weeks, or that is getting worse
- Catching or locking of the hip, which can suggest damage to the cartilage rim and warrants assessment
- Pain after a fall, a hot swollen joint, fever, or being unable to put weight on the leg
Where an osteopath fits in
There is limited good-quality research showing that hands-on treatment changes the course of hip impingement, so I do not claim that osteopathy treats it.
What an osteopath can usefully do is assess the hip together with your lower back and pelvis, since groin and hip pain can come from several places, advise on which movements to adjust, and support a graded strengthening programme. The hospital leaflet says many people manage well without surgery, with surgery considered only if symptoms do not improve with conservative treatment. If the assessment suggests you need your GP, a physiotherapist or a specialist instead, I will tell you.
If you would like your symptoms assessed, you are welcome to book an appointment. Osteopathic care is not right for everyone, and if something needs medical attention first, I will tell you.
Common questions
What movements make hip impingement worse?
A hospital leaflet lists deep squats, lunges, jumping and rowing machines as movements to avoid, and suggests low-impact exercise such as swimming instead.
Do I need surgery for hip impingement?
The leaflet says many people manage well without surgery, and that surgery may be an option if symptoms do not improve with conservative treatment such as physiotherapy and activity changes.
Free 5-minute exercise sheet
A simple, printable sheet of gentle exercises and stretches, about five minutes a day, based on NHS physiotherapy leaflets. It is general information, not a personal treatment plan, and it is not suitable if you have any of the urgent signs listed above.
Sources and further reading
Links open in a new tab. Sources were checked in October 2026.
Related guides
This page is general information to help you understand common aches and pains. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose your problem. If you are worried about your symptoms, please speak to your GP or call NHS 111.