Alpha angle: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
Alpha angle is a measurement used to describe the shape of the ball part of the hip joint. It helps clinicians assess whether the femoral head (the “ball”) is smoothly rounded where it meets the femoral neck. It is most commonly discussed in evaluations for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), especially “cam” morphology. Alpha angle is measured on imaging such as X-rays, MRI, or CT.