The effect of femoro-acetabular impingement on the kinematics and kinetics of the hip joint

Gait analysis is an objective tool that has been used to assess and monitor treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions. Recently, it has been used to assess the impact of femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) on the hip and lower limb movements. There have been a fairly limited number of studies published so far reporting unexpected and inconsistent results, which calls for more research to be conducted in this arena. In the light of the limited data available, it has been challenging to reconcile the contradictions in some of these results, and therefore no coherent conclusions could be drawn. In this short article, we attempt to explain some of the abnormal kinematic and kinetic patterns associated with FAI by highlighting similarities between the gait seen in early osteoarthritis (OA) and that of FAI. We also propose an approach for future research in this field and emphasise the importance of quantifying early OA in FAI based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and the amount of chondral damage seen during open or arthroscopic surgery.