Do you have a hip that pops, clicks or snaps during specific movements? If you do read along!
When you experience these sounds coming from your hips it is called Snapping Hip Syndrome (SHS), also known as coxa saltans or dancer’s hip. The snapping sensation occurs when a muscle or tendon moves over a bony protrusion in your hip. This happens when muscle or tendons become inflamed, often from overuse.
SHS is more common in women but it can affect people of all genders and ages. SHS can be divided into 3 main types:
1) Internal: tendons slide over bone structures at the front of your hip joint
2) External: most common. Tendons or muscles slide over the top of your thigh bone/ femur
3) Intra-articular: more rare. Snapping hip is caused by an actual hip joint issue or injury. Unlike external or internal SHS, intra-articular SHS isn’t caused by a tendon or muscle.
Many cases of SHS are harmless but can increase risk for joint damage. More serious cases of SHS can cause pain and affect the overall performance.
Symptoms
SHS can result in an audible snapping or clicking sound. It often causes no pain, but you may feel a clicking or popping sensation when flexing your hip.
Other symptoms you may experience with this condition include:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Leg muscle weakness when trying to lift your leg sideways or forward
- Swelling
- Difficulty with regular physical activity such as walking or rising from a chair
- Feeling your hip is coming out of place
The physiotherapists at PPP can help you diagnose the injury and also help you overcome the sensation by working on stretching the right muscles, strengthening and positioning/ posture.