Hip 101: Understanding Your Pain and Options for Relief

Within the healthcare system, it can feel like there’s a lot of jargon out there, making it difficult to make sense of your symptoms and the available treatment options. Understanding what is going on when you are in pain is comforting and allows for a better understanding of treatment plans. The hip, specifically, is a very complicated joint with many abbreviations and terms that require further explanation. Below, you will find definitions and understanding of FAI, IFI, THA, acetabulum, labrum, and dysplasia – all common medical terms pertaining to the hip.

FAI (Femoral Acetabular Impingement)

Let’s break this one down. Femoral refers to the femur, which contributes to the hip joint ball. The acetabulum is the socket portion of the hip, which is attached to the pelvis. Together, the femur and the acetabulum create the hip joint. Now, femoral acetabular impingement means the femur is pinching on the acetabulum, including the labrum. This can be a pain generator and cause sharp pain in the groin region. This injury typically occurs because of an overgrowth of the acetabulum or the femur when the hip is placed in flexion, adduction (or inward from the midline of the body), and internal rotation of the hip.

IFI (Ischiofemoral Impingement)

Ischiofemoral describes the bones involved, including the ischium, a part of the pelvis, and the femur, the large upper leg bone. Ischiofemoral impingement occurs when the femur’s head (or the top) and the ischium pinches a muscle or tendon. This can occur due to surgical changes to the pelvis or a notch in the pelvis that is smaller than average. Typically, this injury presents pain when the hip is extended, adducted (or inward from midline), and externally rotated.

THA (Total Hip Arthroplasty)

Total hip arthroplasty is a surgical procedure known as a total hip replacement. A THA is typically done when a patient has severe degeneration or arthritis in the hip or can be done when someone has necrosis, which means the hip has no blood supply and is beginning to die. Total hip arthroplasty surgery can be done in various ways depending on the surgeon’s training and the individual needs. Total hip arthroplasty can be done anterior (from the front), anterolateral (from the side of the front), or posterior (from the back). THA can have great outcomes, and each approach has pros and cons. When considering a THA, ask your surgeon about the approach and options.

Acetabulum (Hip Socket)

The acetabulum is the part of the hip socket attached to the pelvis. It creates a small cup for the “ball” of the hip joint to fit into. The amount of coverage the cup provides varies from person to person, but the hip joint is generally considered mobile but stable. If the acetabulum is too small or too large, this is considered hip dysplasia. See below for a further description of hip dysplasia.

Dysplasia (Over or Under Coverage of the Ball in the Socket)

As defined above, dysplasia is when the cup of the ball and socket joint creates over coverage or under overage. Hip dysplasia can lead to different types of hip pain and is a broad term for many different hip disorders.

Labrum (Hip Joint Cushion)

The labrum is a cushion-like structure that creates suction for the ball and socket joint. It creates a cushion to help protect the joint surface from wear and tear, as well as creates stability for the hip joint.

Hip Pain Prevention

It’s important to know that not all hip pain will require surgery. Athletico is proud to offer our Hip Preservation Program to help assess hip pain and improve outcomes for functional independence. While not all hip pain can be prevented or eliminated with physical therapy, Athletico’s Hip Preservation Program can help individuals improve mobility and function to continue recreational and professional activities.

Do you have hip pain? Contact Athletico for a free assessment. Our team will assess your symptoms and provide recommendations for the best treatment plan to support your needs.

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*Per federal guidelines, beneficiaries of plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VHA and other federally funded plans are not eligible for free assessments.

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.