Hip Impingement Physio in Newcastle

What is Hip Impingement?

Hip impingement occurs when the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum) of the hip joint do not move together as smoothly as they should. This can place increased pressure on the cartilage and soft tissues within the joint, particularly during movements involving deep hip bending or twisting.

There are three recognised types of femoroacetabular impingement:

Cam Impingement

A cam deformity occurs when the femoral head is not perfectly round. During hip movement, this can increase contact between the ball and socket.

Pincer Impingement

A pincer deformity occurs when the socket covers more of the femoral head than usual, increasing contact during movement.

Combined Impingement

Many people have features of both cam and pincer impingement.

It is important to remember that many people have cam or pincer changes on X-rays or MRI scans without experiencing any pain. A thorough clinical assessment is therefore essential before attributing symptoms to imaging findings alone.

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What Causes Hip Impingement?

Hip impingement develops because of a combination of joint shape, activity levels and loading.

Common contributing factors include:

• Repetitive sporting activities

• Running

• Football

• Rugby

• Hockey

• Weightlifting

• Deep squatting

• Reduced hip strength

• Reduced movement control

• Previous hip injuries

FAI often affects younger and middle-aged adults who participate in regular sport, although it can also occur in less active individuals.

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Symptoms of Hip Impingement

Symptoms usually develop gradually and often worsen with activities involving repeated hip flexion.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain in the groin

• Pain at the front of the hip

• Stiffness in the hip

• Reduced hip movement

• Pain during squatting

• Pain while running

• Pain after prolonged sitting

• Pain when getting out of a car

• Clicking or catching sensations within the hip

Some people also experience pain around the buttock or outer hip.

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How is Hip Impingement Diagnosed?

At NE Physio, your assessment begins with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, sporting activities and goals.

Your physiotherapist will assess:

• Hip range of movement

• Muscle strength

• Walking pattern

• Balance

• Functional movements

• Squatting mechanics

• Single-leg control

Specific clinical tests may reproduce your symptoms and help determine whether the hip joint is the likely source of your pain.

If necessary, we may recommend further investigations such as X-rays or MRI scans, particularly if your symptoms are severe, persistent or another condition is suspected.

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Physiotherapy Treatment for Hip Impingement

For many people, physiotherapy is the first-line treatment for hip impingement.

Treatment focuses on improving your ability to tolerate activity rather than simply avoiding movement.

Education

Understanding your diagnosis helps you make informed decisions about exercise and recovery.

We'll explain:

• Why your symptoms occur

• How to manage flare-ups

• Which movements may temporarily aggravate symptoms

• How to continue exercising safely

Activity Modification

Rather than stopping activity altogether, we'll help you temporarily modify movements that overload the hip while maintaining your overall fitness.

Strength Training

Improving the strength of the muscles surrounding the hip can reduce stress on the joint and improve movement efficiency.

Your programme may include exercises targeting:

• Gluteal muscles

• Hip flexors

• Core muscles

• Quadriceps

• Hamstrings

Exercises are progressed gradually according to your symptoms and goals.

Improving Hip Mobility

Many people with hip impingement develop stiffness.

We'll prescribe mobility exercises where appropriate to improve comfortable movement without unnecessarily aggravating symptoms.

Movement Retraining

Improving movement patterns can reduce unnecessary stress through the hip.

Depending on your goals, rehabilitation may include:

• Squatting technique

• Running assessment

• Landing mechanics

• Single-leg stability

• Sport-specific movement training

Manual Therapy

Where appropriate, hands-on treatment may be used alongside exercise to improve comfort and movement.

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Will I Need Surgery?

Not necessarily.

Many people successfully manage hip impingement with physiotherapy, particularly when symptoms are identified early.

Surgery may be considered if:

• Symptoms remain significant despite a comprehensive rehabilitation programme

• Daily activities continue to be severely limited

• Imaging and clinical findings suggest surgery is appropriate

If your assessment indicates that an orthopaedic opinion would be beneficial, we'll discuss your options and guide you through the referral process.

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Recovery After Hip Impingement

Recovery depends on several factors, including:

• Duration of symptoms

• Activity levels

• Hip strength

• Joint mobility

• Consistency with rehabilitation

Many people notice meaningful improvements within eight to twelve weeks, although returning to high-level sport may take longer.

Our goal is to help you return to activity safely while reducing the likelihood of symptoms returning.

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Preventing Hip Pain Returning

Reducing your risk of future symptoms involves maintaining good hip strength and gradually progressing activity.

We'll provide advice on:

• Managing training loads

• Strength maintenance

• Warm-up strategies

• Movement control

• Recovery between sessions

• Returning to sport safely

These strategies help improve long-term hip health and performance.

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Why Choose NE Physio?

At NE Physio, you'll receive a detailed one-to-one assessment and an individual rehabilitation programme designed around your goals.

We provide:

• Accurate diagnosis

• Evidence-based rehabilitation

• Progressive strengthening programmes

• Hands-on treatment where appropriate

• Running and sports rehabilitation

• Clear advice throughout your recovery

Whether your goal is returning to competitive sport or simply moving comfortably again, we'll help you regain confidence in your hip.

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Book Your Hip Assessment

If groin pain or hip stiffness is stopping you from exercising, working or enjoying everyday activities, early physiotherapy can help.

Book an appointment with NE Physio today for a comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment plan. We help people across Newcastle recover from hip impingement, improve hip function and return to the activities they enjoy with confidence.