Southlake Hip Snapping (2024)

FAQs

What doctor treats snapping hips? ›

People who have snapping hip syndrome with painful symptoms should consult an orthopedic hip specialist. This medical professional can give an accurate diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan to alleviate pain and minimize possible future joint damage.

Most cases are minimally symptomatic and conservative treatment generally suffices as well as treating the underlying cause, for example any leg length differences and improving the way you walk. Avoid activities that cause the snapping sensation and seeking chiropractic care can also manage snapping hip.

In some cases a physician may suggest surgery to relieve symptoms of snapping hip syndrome. What type of surgery is recommended will depend on the underlying cause of snapping hip. IT band release is sometimes recommended for people who have persistent and painful inner hip snapping syndrome.

When to See a Doctor. Most of the time, snapping hip syndrome is not painful. However, if you experience pain or swelling that does not go away after a few weeks, you should see a doctor to figure out what is going on.

Snapping hip is most often the result of tightness in the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip. People who are involved in sports and activities that require repeated bending at the hip are more likely to experience snapping hip. Dancers are especially vulnerable.

Snapping Hip Recovery Time

While surgery is sometimes recommended for snapping hip, many patients will recover with rest, physical therapy, and the passage of time. Healing often occurs after 2 to 6 weeks.

Popkin also suggests plenty of foam rolling, a type of self-massage that can help loosen up the tight areas. Focus on the sides of your hip, quadriceps (in the front of the leg), glutes, IT band (along the side of the leg) and the adductors (on your inner thigh).

Internal SHS is the second most common form of this disorder. People with internal snapping hip often experience a gradual onset of symptoms that worsen over time. They may experience pain near the groin and can hear popping when they run.

Active flexion of the hip followed by passive extension and abduction can reproduce the snapping over the greater trochanter. Alternatively, having the patient stand and adduct the hip with circumduction often visibly reproduces the snapping over the greater trochanter (the authors term this as the hula-hoop test).

It is mostly seen in people 15 to 40 years of age. Although snapping hip syndrome is estimated to occur in 5% to 10% of the population, the incidence may be higher in dancers, and athletes such as soccer players, weight lifters, and runners.

What is a physical exam for a snapping hip? ›

To examine the hip, the patient is placed in a lateral position, and the Ober test is done to test for iliotibial band tightness. While the patient is in this same position, the knee and hip can be cycled through flexion and extension to provoke the snapping.

Snapping hip syndrome usually can be cured over time.

As X-ray is the modality dedicated for evaluation of bony structures, results from plain radiographs in patients with extra-articular snapping hip tend to be normal. Dynamic ultrasound is the gold standard diagnostic technique in both forms of extra-articular snapping hip syndrome^{(6, 14)}.

Snapping hip due to a cartilage injury may develop suddenly, and may be caused by a fall or other trauma. It is often accompanied by a catching sensation and/or a limited range of motion in the hip. People who have snapping hip syndrome with painful symptoms should consult a physician.

Snapping hip syndrome, also known as coxa saltans (or dancer's hip), is a clinical condition characterized by an audible or palpable snapping sensation that is heard during movement of the hip joint.

Anti-inflammatory medicines like (Motrin^® or Advil^®) or naproxen (Aleve^®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) may be taken. A steroid injection to the area around the tendon can decrease pain and inflammation.

Iliopsoas bursography can be conducted to confirm the diagnosis of internal snapping hip. As the bursa is filled with contrast, under fluoroscopy, the tendon can be visualized flipping back and forth. The symptoms of the snapping must be able to be reproduced while supine and under the fluoroscopy.

Less commonly, a cartilage tear or bits of broken cartilage or bone in the joint space can cause snapping, or a loose piece of cartilage can cause the hip to lock up. This can cause pain and disability.