Mid-term outcomes of exercise therapy for the non-surgical management of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: are short-term effects persisting?

Objectives: To investigate the mid-term outcomes of exercise therapy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS).

Design: Follow-up study.

Setting: Clinical setting.

Participants: Twenty-six patients with FAIS who completed a 12-week semi-standardized, progressive exercise therapy program.

Main Outcome Measures: At a mid-term follow-up of 4.6 years, therapy outcome was assessed using (i) the Global Treatment Outcome questionnaire for hip pain, (ii) the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) for hip pain and function in activities of daily living (ADL) and Sport and (iii) the Hip Sports Activity Scale (HSAS) for sport activity level. Mid-term outcomes were compared to pre-symptomatic, pre-therapy, as well as to short-term follow ups (18 weeks).

Results: In patients who completed the exercise program and did not undergo hip surgery (N = 19), mid-term HOS ADL and HOS Sport (P = 0.002) were higher than pre-therapy, and comparable to the 18-week follow-up. Mid-term HSAS was lower than the pre-symptomatic status (P = 0.022), but comparable to the 18-week follow-up.

Conclusion: At a mid-term follow-up of 4.6 years, FAIS patients with no subsequent hip surgery maintained the good exercise therapy outcomes and the level of sport activity achieved at short term.