Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS): What Providers Need to Know About Assessment, Conversations, and Conservative Care

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is not just an imaging finding. It is a movement-related clinical disorder that requires the combination of symptoms, clinical signs, and imaging findings to support diagnosis. For providers, that distinction matters.

Many active patients—especially younger athletes—may show cam or pincer morphology on imaging without pain. That means our job is not simply to “find a bump” on a radiograph. Our job is to connect the patient’s story, symptom behavior, movement presentation, and goals into a meaningful clinical picture to promote long-term success.

Current guidance supports a multimodal, nonoperative first-line approach for many patients with nonarthritic hip pain and FAIS. This usually includes activity modification, strengthening of the hip and trunk, movement retraining, and patient education. Physical therapy has shown short-term improvements in pain and function, with moderate to large effects reported in systematic review data.

Providers, take note: patients with hip pain often see multiple clinicians before getting a clear explanation. That makes communication an essential part of treatment. A thoughtful exam, clear education, and shared decision-making can reduce fear, improve buy-in, and help patients understand why rehab is not “doing less,”; in fact, it can actually be the most appropriate place to start.