Conditions we treat
Hip Impingement & Labral Tear Treatment in Surrey, BC
A deep pinch in the front of the hip when you squat, sit low, or get out of the car — common in active adults and often misread as a groin strain.
What it feels like
- A deep, pinching or sharp pain in the front of the hip or groin, often described with a "C" shape of the hand around the hip
- Worse with deep squats, prolonged sitting, getting in and out of the car, or pivoting in sport
- Clicking, catching or a feeling of the hip locking; stiffness turning the leg inward
Why it happens
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) describes a hip where the ball and socket don't clear each other smoothly at the end of range, usually because of extra bone on one or both. Over time the repeated contact can irritate the labrum — the cartilage rim that seals the socket. It is common in hockey players, dancers, martial artists, lifters and anyone who spends a lot of time in deep hip flexion. Labral tears also show up on MRI in many pain-free hips, so the scan alone doesn't decide your treatment.
How we can help
Assessment maps which movements provoke the pinch, how the hip and pelvis move and how well the deep hip muscles are controlling the joint. For most people the plan is a progressive program that builds strength and control around the hip, improves mobility where it is genuinely restricted, and modifies the positions and loads that keep irritating the joint — without giving up the sport or work you care about. If the hip isn't responding or there are features suggesting a surgical opinion is warranted, we say so and help you get one; if you do have surgery, we provide the rehab.
Related reading: Hip pain
Common questions
Can a labral tear heal without surgery?
The labrum has a limited blood supply, so tears generally don't knit back together — but a torn labrum doesn't have to be painful. Good rehab resolves symptoms for a large proportion of people, and current guidelines recommend a course of physiotherapy before considering surgery for most presentations.
Should I stop squatting?
Not necessarily. Depth, stance width and foot position often matter more than the squat itself, and your physiotherapist will help you find a version that loads the hip without pinching while you rebuild strength and control.