Exercise for Hip Impingement. What TO DO. And what NOT to do.
Published: Dec 18, 2024
Hip Impingement. A frustrating diagnosis that can leave you more confused than before. Doctors tell you that surgery is the only true “cure” to fix this bony pathology. But try physical therapy first you’re told...
The truth is that exercise is not the magic fix either. That doesn't mean it can’t be an incredibly powerful tool in your path to pain-free hips. It’s part of the puzzle, but it’s not the antidote.
My Hip Impingement Story
In 2014, I wanted an answer to my chronic hip pain. I went to a highly-respected Manhattan orthopedic surgeon and was told I had femoral acetabular impingement (“FAI”).
What is hip impingement?
Many people are walking around with hip impingement without any pain. Numerous studies demonstrate that there is no connection between hip pain and hip impingement.
- 72% of 110 asymptomatic hips had signs of FAI.
- Metareview analyzing 2,114 hips found FAI in 67% of asymptomatic hips.
Desperately clinging to exercise as some panacea for all your body’s pain problems will just keep you on the perpetual pain-relief hamster wheel. I didn’t feel better until I understood how my psychology, behavior and mindset affected my chronic hip pain.