Physiotherapy and rehabilitation in East Melbourne
Physiotherapy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
SOS Clinic provides FAI physiotherapy in East Melbourne. Care combines assessment, education, changes to aggravating activity and a progressive exercise program for people with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and related hip or groin pain.
What is femoroacetabular impingement syndrome?
FAI describes contact related to the shape of the hip’s ball and socket. Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) means that symptoms, clinical signs and imaging findings fit together. A cam or pincer shape on a scan alone does not establish the cause of pain.
Symptoms can overlap with other hip and groin problems. Assessment helps distinguish joint-related pain from tendon, muscle or referred pain and identifies when further investigation is needed.
Can physiotherapy help FAI?
Physiotherapy aims to improve symptoms and function through education, activity modification and exercise. It cannot change the underlying bone shape. Your response is reviewed over time, and persistent limitations may warrant an orthopaedic opinion.
What happens at the first appointment?
Your physiotherapist asks about your symptoms, training, work and goals, and reviews relevant imaging. The examination considers hip movement, muscle strength and how you perform tasks that matter to you. You will discuss the findings and agree on a practical starting plan.
What might my exercise program include?
Your program may work on hip and trunk strength, movement control and gradual exposure to activities that have become difficult. Exercise selection, range and load are tailored to your assessment. A painful deep squat or stretch is not something to push through simply to gain flexibility.
Do I have to stop running or going to the gym?
Not necessarily. Your physiotherapist can help adjust exercise depth, training volume and the activities that provoke symptoms. The aim is to find a manageable level of activity while you build capacity. Report a flare that does not settle or interferes with daily function so the plan can be reviewed.
How do you know treatment is working?
Useful measures include how comfortably you sit, walk, train or work, together with your strength, movement and confidence. Repeat assessment shows whether the program needs progressing or changing. Objective strength and movement testing can add information where appropriate.
When is surgery considered?
An orthopaedic review may be helpful if symptoms and function remain limited despite an appropriate rehabilitation trial, or if the assessment suggests a problem needing further investigation. A decision about surgery considers your symptoms, examination, imaging, goals and response to non-operative care. A scan finding alone is not a reason to operate.
Hip physiotherapy at SOS Clinic
Associate Professor Amir Takla is a sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist at SOS Clinic and first author of the ISHA physiotherapy consensus statement on FAIS. The clinic brings physiotherapy and orthopaedic care together at 166 Gipps Street, East Melbourne.
Read about hip physiotherapy, FAI diagnosis and treatment and rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy. If a surgical opinion is needed, your physiotherapist can coordinate review with Professor Phong Tran.
More on hip physiotherapy
- Hip physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy for hip bursitis and gluteal tendon pain
- Physiotherapy for hip osteoarthritis
- Rehabilitation after hip arthroscopy
Evidence and further reading
Takla and colleagues, ISHA physiotherapy agreement on assessment and treatment of FAIS; FAIT trial comparing hip arthroscopy with physiotherapy and activity modification. These sources inform the discussion of treatment options; they do not predict an individual result.
Arrange physiotherapy at SOS Clinic
Visit Specialist Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic at St Francis Building, Ground Floor, 166 Gipps Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002. Bring any relevant scans and a list of the activities you would like to return to.
Book an appointment or call (03) 9928 6161.
This information is general. Follow the advice and precautions provided by your own surgeon and physiotherapist.