Hip Impingement Treatment in Miami, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour

Hip impingement syndrome, also called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is a common cause of hip and groin pain in athletes and active adults. It often shows up as a dull ache in the front of the hip, a pinch with squats, or a catching feeling when you lift your leg.

At ASR Sports Medicine, we see hip impingement in people who train hard, sit a lot for work, or do sports that load the hip in deep flexion. That includes runners along Miami Beach, soccer players, CrossFit athletes, and anyone who spends hours in a car or at a desk in Miami or Bal Harbour.

This guide explains what hip impingement is, why it keeps coming back when rehab is too generic, and how a combined sports medicine approach with physical therapy and chiropractic care can help you move better and stay active.

What hip impingement syndrome is

Your hip is a ball and socket joint. It is built for strength, load, and smooth rotation. The femoral head should glide and rotate inside the socket while the labrum and cartilage protect the joint surfaces.

With femoroacetabular impingement, the shape of the hip can create extra contact during hip flexion and rotation. Two common patterns show up.

Cam impingement happens when the femoral head is not perfectly round and has a bony bump. Pincer impingement happens when the socket covers too much of the femoral head. Many people have a mix of both.

A key point is that structure alone does not guarantee pain. Lots of people have cam or pincer changes and feel fine. Symptoms usually build when the hip is loaded with poor mechanics, high volume training, long sitting, or repeated deep hip flexion. Over time, that can irritate the labrum and cartilage and trigger protective muscle tightness around the hip.

Hip impingement symptoms we see in Miami athletes and active adults

Most people describe deep groin pain or a pinch in the front of the hip. Sitting, squatting, pivoting, and getting in and out of a car can set it off. Some feel catching or clicking with hip flexion.

On exam, a few patterns are common.

Hip internal rotation is often limited. Hip flexion can feel blocked. The posterior chain can be underpowered, especially the glutes and deep hip rotators. Core stability can be inconsistent, which changes how the pelvis loads the hip.

If you only stretch the hip flexors or only strengthen the hip in isolation, symptoms often return. That is because hip impingement is rarely just a hip problem.

Why hip impingement is rarely an isolated issue

The hip does not move on its own. The pelvis, lumbar spine, thoracic spine, and ankles all change how the hip loads.

If the ankle lacks dorsiflexion, the body often steals motion from the hip or low back during squats and running. If the thoracic spine is stiff, rotation demands can shift down into the hip. If the pelvis is not controlled well, the femoral head can drift forward in the socket under load.

That is why a sports medicine evaluation matters. At ASR Sports Medicine, we treat hip impingement with a full kinetic chain lens, not a single joint checklist.

The movement problem behind FAI hip pain

Hip impingement is not only a bone problem. In many cases it behaves like a movement control problem.

When the glute medius and deep rotators are not doing their job, the hip flexors, TFL, and adductors often take over. That can pull the femoral head forward, limit internal rotation, and make deep hip flexion feel pinchy.

The rehab goal is joint centration. That means the femoral head sits and moves in a better position inside the socket while you squat, hinge, run, and change direction.

How ASR Sports Medicine approaches hip impingement care in Miami

We often combine physical therapy and chiropractic care because many people need both.

Physical therapy focuses on strength, motor control, graded loading, and return to sport planning. Chiropractic care can help with joint mobility, soft tissue tone, and movement efficiency across the spine, pelvis, and hip. The best plan depends on your exam, your sport, and what activities you need to get back to in Miami, Miami Beach, or Bal Harbour.

Below is the general clinical progression we use for many cases of hip impingement syndrome.

Phase 1 Reset and calm irritation

Early care is about reducing irritation and stopping the cycle of guarding.

Manual therapy is often useful here. Soft tissue work may target the TFL, adductors, glute region, and hip flexors when they are overactive. Gentle hip joint mobilization can improve glide and rotation when the capsule is stiff.

We also use breathing and pelvic positioning work when needed. When the diaphragm, pelvic floor, and deep abdominals are not coordinating well, the hip often becomes the backup stabilizer. That usually increases compressive load at the front of the joint.

During this phase, we usually limit deep hip flexion that triggers symptoms. That can mean fewer low squats, less time sitting, and fewer high volume hip flexion drills. We replace that with low load movement to keep the joint from stiffening. Gentle walking is often a good start.

Phase 2 Reinforce with strength and motor control

Once pain settles and basic mobility improves, the priority shifts to control.

We build glute strength, posterior chain endurance, and pelvic stability so the hip stays centered under load. Bridge progressions, hip hinge patterns, and split stance holds can work well when they are coached to avoid anterior hip pinching.

Deep hip rotators are trained with controlled internal rotation and external rotation drills. These muscles matter because they guide fine hip mechanics when you are on one leg or changing direction.

Core integration becomes non negotiable. We need the trunk to stabilize while the hip moves. Dead bug variations, bird dog patterns, and anti rotation work can help reduce compensation from the low back.

This is where many generic programs fail. Getting stronger is helpful, but sequencing matters. Your nervous system has to learn a cleaner pattern.

Phase 3 Rebuild for sport and real life in Miami

The final stage is about function. We load the hip in patterns that match your goals.

We start with hinge based strength that teaches hip dominant force production. Step ups and controlled lunges build single leg tolerance and proprioception. Then we progress to more demanding drills based on your sport.

For athletes, we add gradual change of direction work, acceleration drills, rotational control, and progressive return to impact when needed. For runners in Miami Beach, that can include cadence and stride adjustments, graded mileage, and strength targets that protect the hip during higher volume weeks.

We also reintroduce deep hip flexion slowly and with good control, so the joint can tolerate compression without a flare.

When to consider imaging or referral

Many people improve with conservative care. Still, imaging or referral can make sense in a few cases.

If symptoms persist beyond 8 to 12 weeks of consistent rehab, if catching or locking is severe, or if you suspect a labral tear, your provider may recommend MRI or an MR arthrogram.

Imaging should support the exam, not replace it. Structural findings are common, even in people with no pain. Function and symptoms guide the plan.

Preventing hip impingement from coming back

Long term success is usually simple, but it takes consistency.

Keep hip and core strength in your weekly routine. Maintain hip mobility without forcing painful end ranges. Break up long sitting when possible. If you train hard, balance volume with recovery so the hip is not taking repeated stress without support.

The bigger takeaway is this. Hip impingement often shows up when other areas stop sharing the load. When the ankle, thoracic spine, pelvis, and core do their job, the hip usually calms down.

Hip impingement help in Miami, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour

If you are dealing with hip or groin pain, pinching with squats, or pain that keeps returning when you ramp up training, a targeted evaluation can save time.

ASR Sports Medicine works with hip impingement using sports medicine testing, physical therapy, and chiropractic care to improve movement quality, restore strength, and guide a safe return to sport. We serve active adults and athletes across Miami, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour.