Gait Alterations in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Differ by Sex

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome may affect gait kinematics differently between males and females. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether individuals with FAI syndrome have different hip and pelvic motion during gait, at their preferred speed and a prescribed speed, compared to individuals of the same sex without pain. METHODS: Twenty-one participants (11 males and 10 females) with FAI syndrome and 41 participants (19 males and 22 females) without hip pain were included in this case-control laboratory study. There were no differences between the 2 groups in age, body mass index, and activity score. Kinematic data for all participants were collected while walking at a preferred speed and at 1.25 m/s. For sex and walking speed, linear regression analyses were used to examine the effect of group and the interaction of group by limb. RESULTS: At both speeds, males with FAI syndrome walked with more than 6 degrees less peak hip extension (P <=.018), 5 degrees greater anterior pelvic tilt (P <=.020), and 5 degrees less posterior pelvic tilt (P <=.018) compared to males without hip pain. Females with FAI syndrome walked with 2 degrees less hip extension (P <=.012) and at least 3 degrees more hip adduction (P<.001) in the more painful hip than in the less painful hip at both speeds. CONCLUSION: Males and females with FAI syndrome have different gait alterations when compared to a same-sex comparison group. In males, differences were between groups. In females with FAI syndrome, differences were between the more painful and the less painful limb.