Femoroacetabular Impingement in Athletes

Abstract

Besides professional sports, what do Alex Rodriguez, Michelle Kwan, and Greg Norman have in common? They all suffered from a condition called femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI. First identified by Dr. Reinhold Ganz, an orthopaedic surgeon in the mid-1990s, FAI has gained recognition in recent years as more professional athletes have been diagnosed with this condition. Characterized as a condition involving an abnormal morphological shape of the femoral head (cam type deformity) or acetabulum (pincer type deformity) of the hip joint, FAI is commonly diagnosed after the athlete complains of hip or groin pain and restricted range of motion (, p. 8). Femoroacetabular impingement is often diagnosed in young, active individuals, such as athletes, and can be successfully managed and treated. In this article, types and diagnosis and management of FAI in athletes, as well as measures to successfully return athletes to participation in sports, are discussed.