Hip Impingement What is a hip impingement? Hip Impingement occurs when there is limited mobility in the hip, brought on by compression of the ball and socket joint, not allowing a normal range of motion. Not only is this injury uncomfortable, it can cause long-term damage to the cartilage in the joint. You may also notice a lack of hip flexibility as the condition worsens. There are two types of hip impingements, cam impingement and pincer impingement. Cam impingement takes place when the femoral head is not as round as it should be, preventing it from moving freely within the hip. Pincer impingement on the other hand, occurs when the acetabulum covers too much of the femoral head leading to cartilage damage and predisposes you to a labral tear. What are symptoms of hip impingement? It may be hard to identify this condition, since pain and discomfort are not often experienced at the beginning. Eventually, you will start to feel pain and stiffness in the thigh and hip area when moving your hips, sitting for an extended period of time, or walking on an incline. How do we treat hip impingement? We work with you to improve the strength in your hips, thighs, and core. We also improve your flexibility and increase your range of motion through a variety of stretching exercises which will help lift tension off of the hips and reduce pain in the area.