What Causes Hip Impingement?

Coxa Vara

Just as in the childhood condition Perthes disease, coxa vara occurs during the growing years of life. When a child suffers from coxa vara, the ball and thigh bone do not experience the same rate of growth. This leads to deformation of the hip joint. Surgical correction may be called for to correct this abnormality of the shaft of the femur and femoral neck. This particular abnormality occurs when there is a decreased angle of the neck to the shaft; it is also known as a varus alignment. This aberration can lead to hip degeneration and pain.

Cam Impingement

When there is a deformity in the top of the femur in the ball, it is known as a cam impingement. When the head experiences a shape not normally developed, the part of the head that is abnormal can find itself jamming in the socket at times during normal activities when the hip is bent. This can happen in such mundane activities as lacing up and tying shoes or in basic exercises like pedaling a bicycle. Simply described, cam impingement happens when there is something of a bump on the femoral head's surface. The condition often occurs in men who are athletic and younger.