Femoroacetabular impingement and its relevance to chiropractors. Part I: A commentary

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition resulting from morphologic abnormalities of the acetabular rim and proximal femur. FAI can manifest through two different mechanisms - Cam-type or pincer-type - although a combination of both is often seen in clinical practice. The Cam-type impingement is characterized by an absent or decreased offset between the femoral head and neck. Pincer-type impingement results from focal or generalised acetabular abnormalities. Either mechanism leads to abnormal contact between the acetabular rim and femoral head-neck junction, creating chondral lesions and labral pathology. FAI has been increasingly recognized as a major cause of pain and premature degenerative changes in the hips of young adults. FAI typically presents as insidious onset groin pain in physically active adults aged 20 to 50 years, often in association with sporting activities. Early diagnosis is crucial in order to improve the management of this condition and avert the pathological progression from impingement to end-stage DJD. Therefore, it is important that the chiropractic profession increases their awareness of FAI, as chiropractors are often the primary contact for patients presenting with this disorder