<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722723</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HGR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001466989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartman Thomas E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10910 DOMAIN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78758</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP and General Counsel</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.1453</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14137</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold at a range of sale prices from $22.13 to $22.20.  The reporting person will provide upon request by the Commission staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of (i) unvested restricted shares totaling 4,800 shares from an initial grant of 4,800 shares of restricted stock made on March 7, 2012; (ii) unvested restricted shares totaling 3,450 shares from an initial grant of 4,600 shares of restricted stock made on March 25, 2011; (iii) unvested restricted shares and fully vested shares totaling 3,384 shares from an initial grant of 6,500 shares of restricted stock made on March 30, 2010, and (iv) unvested restricted shares and fully vested shares totaling 2,500 shares from an initial grant of 5,000 shares of restricted stock that vest to the extent of one-quarter on June 25, 2010 and cumulatively vest to the extent of one-quarter each year thereafter, subject to certain provisions under the Plan, and which shall become fully vested upon a termination of employment not involving termination for cause or voluntary termination.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Except as otherwise noted, all remaining unvested restricted shares will continue to vest at a rate of 25% per year of the original grant amount on the anniversary date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jessica Lochmann Allen, Attorney-in-Fact for Thomas E. Hartman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
