Understanding Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Understanding Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

Anterior femoral glide syndrome, also known as anterior hip impingement syndrome, is a condition characterized by abnormal contact between the front (anterior) of the thigh bone (femur) and hip socket (acetabulum). This impingement or pinching typically occurs during hip flexion motions like bending down or bringing the knees up towards the chest.

Symptoms of Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

Common symptoms associated with anterior femoral glide syndrome include:

• Pain in the front of the hip that worsens with hip flexion
• Aching or burning hip pain when getting in or out of a car or sitting for long periods
• Stiffness, loss of flexibility and decreased range of motion in the hip
• Pain or difficulty with activities like squatting, lunging or stair climbing
• A sensation of the hip catching or locking up
• Inflammation and tenderness in the front of the hip

Causes of Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

There are several issues that can contribute to the abnormal femoroacetabular impingement that underlies this syndrome:

• Structural abnormalities - Some people are simply born with a hip socket that provides too much coverage of the femur or an abnormally shaped femoral head and/or neck.
• Hip dysplasia - This developmental condition results in a shallow, improperly formed hip socket that allows too much femoral glide.
• Injuries - Trauma like hip dislocations can damage tissues causing scarring and atypical bone formations.
• Osteoarthritis - Cartilage damage and bone spur formation in osteoarthritic hips also enhances impingement.
• Muscular imbalances - Weak deep stabilizer muscles allow excessive femoral glide.

Risk Factors

You may be at increased risk of developing anterior femoral glide syndrome if you:

• Participate frequently in sports requiring deep hip flexion (hockey, football, ballet, gymnastics, martial arts etc.)
• Have a desk job or commonly sit in deep-seated postures like cross-legged sitting
• Have very flexible hips
• Have had previous hip injuries
• Have family members with the condition

Diagnosing Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

If anterior hip pain is significantly impacting your function, see your doctor for a thorough evaluation. They will gather a medical history and conduct tests to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pain. Diagnostic procedures may include:

Physical Examination

Your doctor will assess hip mobility and flexibility looking for impairments and signs of impingement like pain with flexion. They will palpate the hip joint checking for tenderness while also evaluating your posture and strength.

Imaging Studies

Imaging like X-rays, CT scans or MRIs give doctors detailed views of the hip to evaluate for potential causes of impingement like structural issues, osteoarthritis or injuries.

Diagnostic Injections

Your physician may inject numbing medication into the hip joint or surrounding tendons and bursa. If your pain resolves after injection into a specific area, it helps confirm the pain generator.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

Most patients with anterior femoral glide syndrome respond well to conservative treatment approaches focused on managing inflammation, restoring normal hip mechanics and strengthening hip stabilizers. Non-surgical options may include:

Activity Modification

Avoiding provocative positions and movements can calm inflammation. Your doctor or physical therapist can provide guidelines on limiting hip flexion along with suggestions for low-impact cross-training options.

Medications

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen help control inflammation and pain. Your physician may also recommend muscle relaxants or injectable corticosteroids for more severe cases.

Physical Therapy

Manual therapy techniques like mobilizations can improve mobility while therapeutic exercises focus on strengthening core and hip stabilizers. Neuromuscular retraining also corrects muscle firing and movement patterns.

Bracing

Wearing a hip brace limits extreme hip flexion ranges temporarily reducing impingement and symptoms.

Ice and Heat

Alternating cold and heat therapy can alleviate muscular tightness and inflammation associated with anterior hip impingement.

When is Surgery Necessary?

If quality of life remains significantly impacted after at least 6 months of nonsurgical management, hip arthroscopy may be appropriate. This outpatient procedure involves inserting a tiny camera into the joint for internal tissue evaluation and treatment. Common surgical options include:

Labral Repair

The cartilage rim lining the acetabulum (labrum) is often damaged by impingement. Surgeons will reattach and smooth frayed labral tissue using tiny anchors.

Bone Shaving

Excess bone growths are reshaped or smoothed down to increase space within the joint alleviating impingement.

Capsular Release

Incisions in stiff hip capsule tissue restores normal biomechanical function.

Microfracture

Small holes created in exposed bone encourage blood flow and cartilage regrowth.

FAI Correction

For substantial femoral abnormalities or misalignments, refined osteotomies accurately reposition the femoral head within the hip socket.

Preventing Anterior Femoral Glide Syndrome

Some proactive steps that may help avoid development of symptomatic anterior impingement include:

• Maintain appropriate flexibility through regular stretching
• Strengthen core and hip stabilizers with bridges, squats, monster walks etc.
• Use proper movement mechanics and posture with all activities
• Listen to your body and avoid movements causing hip pain
• Stay active but avoid overtraining

Implementing appropriate prevention strategies helps ensure stable hip mechanics protecting soft tissues from impingement damage.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.