02/04/2026
Today’s educational post is inspired by what we’ve been seeing frequently in the office lately. 🤓
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a mechanical hip disorder where abnormal contact occurs between the femoral head/neck and the acetabular rim. Over time, that repeated collision irritates the labrum, joint capsule, and surrounding soft tissues, driving pain and functional limitation — especially in active adults.
Common symptoms of FAI:
• Deep anterior hip or groin pain (often described as a “C-shaped” ache)
• Pain with sitting, squatting, lunging, or getting out of a car
• Hip stiffness or reduced range of motion
• Catching, clicking, or locking sensations
• Pain after athletic activity or prolonged sitting
• Decreased power or confidence in the hip during movement
FAI is not just a bone problem — the soft tissue inflammation and tendon overload around the joint are a big contributor to symptoms. That’s where shockwave therapy becomes clinically useful.
How shockwave therapy helps:
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) delivers focused acoustic energy into irritated tissue around the hip. The goal isn’t to “break” anything — it’s to stimulate a controlled healing response. In FAI cases, shockwave therapy can:
• Increase local blood flow to chronically irritated tissue
• Stimulate cellular repair and collagen remodeling
• Reduce pain signaling via neuromodulation
• Break up degenerative tissue patterns
• Accelerate resolution of tendinopathy around the hip flexors and deep rotators
• Improve tissue tolerance so rehab exercises are more effective
When paired with corrective mobility work and strength-based rehabilitation, shockwave therapy can significantly shorten recovery timelines. It addresses the inflammatory and degenerative soft tissue component while rehab corrects the underlying biomechanics.
The combination allows patients to move with less pain, restore hip function, and return to activity without relying solely on injections or surgery. We have seen several cases of this that have truly benefited so much from shockwave, it really does make a difference!
