Pain Condition
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Deep squats, sitting in low chairs, getting in the car and bringing your knee to your chest all cause a sharp pinch in the front of your hip. You were told you have FAI. The bone shape matters, but how much it hurts depends a great deal on how the muscles around your hip move and protect it.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Hip Impingement (FAI)
Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, happens when the shapes of the ball and socket of the hip make contact in certain positions. In cam impingement, the ball is less round. In pincer impingement, the socket covers too much of the ball. Many people have both. It is common in athletes who do deep squats, kicking, skating or dance.
Many people have FAI shapes without pain. When it is painful, contact in deep flexion and rotation can irritate the labrum and cartilage. The hip flexors, adductors and deep rotators then tighten, reducing space in the joint and increasing pinching. Weak gluteals and stiff low backs add strain.
Your orthopedist manages imaging and decides on injections or surgery. Dr. Gordon treats the muscle patterns that increase pinching, and supports recovery if you have had surgery.
Hip Impingement (FAI) at a Glance
Also called
FAI, cam or pincer impingement
Who it affects
Athletes, especially in squatting, kicking, skating and dance, and many active adults
Common symptoms
Groin pinching with deep flexion, stiffness, pain with sitting
Key point
FAI shapes are common in people without pain
What Dr. Gordon addresses
Hip flexor, adductor and deep rotator tension, gluteal weakness, movement habits
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
FAI care focuses on bone shape. The muscles that control how much space the hip has are often the easiest part to change.
What routine testing is looking for
- Cam or pincer shape on imaging
- Labral damage
- Cartilage wear
- Surgical options
What often keeps symptoms going
- Tight hip flexors that crowd the front of the joint
- Adductor and deep rotator tension
- Weak gluteals
- Low back and pelvic tilt habits
- Training volume in deep flexion
These are assessed with movement testing and hands-on exam.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Pinching in deep squats
Sharp pain at the front of the hip with deep bending.
Pain with sitting in low chairs
Pinching or aching in low seats.
Pain getting in the car
Pain lifting the leg into the car.
Groin stiffness
Reduced hip rotation and flexion.
Aching after activity
Groin ache after sport or training.
Clicking
Clicking with labral involvement.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Bone shape
Cam and pincer shapes create contact in deep positions, evaluated by your orthopedist.
Hip flexor tension
Tight hip flexors crowd the front of the joint.
Deep rotator and adductor tension
Tension reduces rotation and increases pinching.
Movement habits
Pelvic position and gluteal weakness affect how much contact occurs.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Hip Impingement (FAI)
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your imaging, orthopedic notes and training history.
Impingement testing
Tests to confirm impingement and labral involvement.
Muscle mapping
Assessment of hip flexors, adductors, deep rotators and gluteals.
Movement assessment
Squat, lunge and rotation testing.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Hip or groin pain with inability to bear weight
- Pain after a fall, especially if you are older or have osteoporosis
- A hot, red, swollen joint or fever
- Groin pain with nausea, vomiting or a painful bulge
- Severe pain at night that does not change with position
- Calf pain and swelling, which can signal a blood clot
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for hip impingement, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases the hip flexor, adductor and deep rotator tension that crowds the front of the hip.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture to calm joint-related pain.
See all servicesBetween visits
Training Plan & Team Coordination
Movement modifications and training guidance, coordinated with your orthopedist and physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"As a professional ballet dancer I'm always looking for a knowledgeable doctor with effective treatment methods for my injuries. Within 3 visits my hip injury, which I had been dealing with for months, was gone. I've worked with several physical therapists and tried many alternative treatments and none compared to the dry needling I received here!"
Max Lippman, Google Review
Hip Impingement (FAI) Questions
Answers About Hip Impingement (FAI)
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Many people improve with conservative care. Your orthopedist can discuss surgical options.
No, but it can reduce muscle tension that increases pinching.
Usually you can adjust depth and stance rather than stop completely.
Yes, once cleared by your surgeon.
Many people need six to ten sessions.
Often. Impingement is a common cause of labral tears.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For hip impingement, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Femoroacetabular Impingement
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and address the muscle side of hip impingement.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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