Efficacy of an Exercise Program for Patients With Femoro-acetabular Impingement

The purpose of this study is to examine whether using an exercise regime on people with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can help reduce pain and improve function. Also, it examines whether the exercise regime will help prevent the worsening of hip cartilage deterioration.

A significant proportion of adults from ages 18 to 50 have a deformity in the neck of their femur. This can be painful and is called a femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and could lead to ones cartilage being destroyed and possibly lead to osteoarthritis of the hip. People with this deformity in their femur have been found to move their hips differently when doing tasks such as walking, squatting or climbing stairs compared to those without this problem. The investigators are testing whether exercise that targets this difference in movement can help reduce pain, improve function and prevent cartilage damage. There will recruit 84 patients with divided into 2 groups. 42 patients will do a 8 week exercise program on strengthening muscles responsible for extending the hip and stretching muscles that are associated with flexing the hip. The intensity of the program will change with visits to the physiotherapist through the course of their exercise program. This research hopes to develop an innovative, non-surgical, low-cost, highly feasible and accessible intervention for patients with FAI.