IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

Anterior Hip Impingement Syndrome in Dancers:   [read the french version]

Author :   Katy Keller, MS, PT

Anterior Hip Impingement Syndrome in Dancers:
A Physical Therapy Assessment and Treatment Approach

Katy Keller, MS, PT
Juilliard School, Westside Dance Physical Therapy, New York City Ballet
New York, New York, USA


Anterior hip impingement pain with “clicking” during movements such as passe and développé is a common complaint in the orthopaedic dance patient population at The Juilliard School and Westside Dance physical therapy clinics. Medical diagnoses associated with hip impingement syndrome include iliopsoas tendinitis, bursitis, snapping hip (transient subluxation of the iliopsoas tendon) and hip flexor contracture.

Characteristic findings on physical assessment of these patients include dysfunctional lumbo-pelvi-femoral rhythm, restricted lumbosacral sidebending, positive hip scour test in the flexion/adduction quadrant with restricted inferior, posterior and medial hip glides, lower quarter muscle imbalances and trunk stabilization deficiency.

The theory put forth is that the separate diagnoses under this more generalized diagnosis of anterior hip impingement syndrome are inter-related via their shared pathomechanics. Specifically hip joint movement is impaired by tightness of the posterior soft tissues (capsule and rotators); and restricted glide of the femoral head in the acetabulum creates pressure and irritation of the overlying anterior soft tissues. A physical therapy treatment approach consisting of manual soft tissue and joint mobilization and neuro-muscular re-education helps restore pain-free, functional dance movement patterns for these patients.

This case study presentation will describe the clinical assessment, selected treatments and differential diagnosis of the anterior hip impingement syndrome based on principles of normal functional mechanics and review of the literature.