Prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement in soccer players

Objective: This review aims to examine the prevalence of Femoroacetabular Impigement (FAI) in soccer players with regard to age, gender, gene (genetics - predisposing factors), ethnicity and type. Methods: A research of PubMed, PEDro and ScienceDirect (through 2010-2021) was completed for the prevalence of FAI. The inclusion criteria were the publication date, the population (soccer players) and the syndrome. Out of 346 studies, 13 were included. Results: Cam impingement was significantly more common in athletes. Males, white race and the age between 12- and 14-years old face higher odds of developing FAI. Physical examination can provide evidence of impingement, but it is not reliable on itself. FABER and FADDIR test reported to be the two most reliable tools. FAI occurs mainly in young athletes, who show pain in the groin and limited movement of the hip. The impact findings showed that the main angles, that are influenced, are the Femoral head-neck offset, Centre-edge angle of Wiberg, Crossing ratio and A-angle. Conclusion: The results of the review showed that FAI appears to be a common type of deformity in soccer athletes. The physical therapy and training communities must be educated to identify, treat, and prevent FAI efficiently.