Snapping Hip
Description
Hearing or feeling a “snap” or “pop” in the hip during movement such as walking, standing up from a sitting position or swinging the leg around is a telltale sign of this condition. More annoying than painful, keep reading to learn more about diagnosis and treatment.
Animations
Snapping Hip
Causes & Triggers
Snapping hip is commonly caused by abnormally tight muscles and tendons in the hip. Instead of gliding smoothly across the joint as you move your leg, an overly tight tendon can catch on protruding parts of your thigh or hip bones. This happens in several places in the hip, depending on which tendon is involved. Snapping hip is also caused by damage to the cartilage that lines your hip joint.
- Muscle or tendon tightness
- Repetitive bending motion
Signs & Symptoms
If you have this condition, you feel a snapping sensation with certain leg movements. You may hear a popping sound when it happens. A snapping hip can be bothersome. It isn’t usually painful, but it can be for some people. And, it can sometimes lead to bursitis in the hip.
- Bursitis
- Discomfort
- Groin pain
- Popping
- Snapping
Tips & Treatment
Snapping hip can be treated with rest and by avoiding activities that cause it to happen. You may benefit from injections and from physical therapy. If these aren’t helpful, surgery may be needed. Your healthcare provider can create a plan that’s right for you.
- Dancers and other young athletes are especially vulnerable to this condition.
- Non-surgical, at-home interventions include rest, activity modification, ice and over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen.
