UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Associate Professor Amit Momaya, M.D., published a study comparing physical activity levels between individuals with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and uninjured controls, determining correlates of moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Published in January in the Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, the study is titled “Demographic and Clinical Correlates of Device-Measured Physical Activity Levels in Individuals with Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.”

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is a condition where the bone along the femoral head of the hip has an improper shape. Due to the irregularity, the bone and joint will rub against each other during movement. This friction over time can cause damage and pain, limiting physical activity.

Momaya and the research team reviewed 25 femoroacetabular impingement patients, 15 with symptoms of 4 to 7 years and 9 with no symptoms. All individuals wore an accelerometer around the waist during daylight hours for 7 days. They compared demographic, clinical data, and physical activity levels between groups using independent sample tests.

The results show that individuals with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome spent less time in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity, took fewer daily steps, and met recommended physical activity guideline cutoffs at lower proportions compared with uninjured controls.

The researchers suggest that interventions should be developed for individuals with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome to increase physical activity and potentially lessen the risk of future comorbidities.

To read more about the study and its results, click here.