Internal/External Snapping Hip

Understanding Hip Conditions and Available Treatments

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Snapping Hip Syndrome Treatment in Alabama

The hips carry a large amount of weight. While they are some of the sturdiest joints in the body, when they do become injured, the consequences can impact a person’s lifestyle and athletic career. Patients struggling with hip injuries, including snapping hip syndrome, can find less pain, more living at Southlake Orthopaedics. We provide complete orthopedic care at locations in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, Alabama, giving patients convenient access to high-quality treatments.

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What Is Snapping Hip Syndrome?

Snapping hip syndrome is a condition where patients hear or feel a snapping sound or sensation when their hip flexes. Most cases are mild annoyances. For dancers and other athletes, however, snapping hip syndrome can interfere with performance. It may also be a warning sign that leads to worse problems if not addressed early. There are two types of snapping hip syndrome, differentiated by where in the hip they develop:

  • External snapping hip syndrome: The snapping is caused by a band of connective tissue that snaps back and forth over a bony structure.
  • Internal snapping hip syndrome: The snapping is caused by damaged cartilage that floats loose in the hip joint, causing it to catch or lock.

 

External snapping hip syndrome is the most common type, with internal cases occurring more rarely.

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Snapping Hip Syndrome Symptoms

The hallmark of snapping hip syndrome is a snapping sound or sensation when a person walks, stands up, or swings their leg around. Most cases are extremely mild and cause no additional symptoms. Occasionally, patients experience pain or stiffness in the hip.

Snapping hip syndrome may lead to hip bursitis. This condition is caused by irritation and inflammation of the bursae, or the fluid-filled sacs that let muscles move smoothly over bone. Bursitis is associated with sharp or aching pain at the point of the hip, extending to the outside of the thigh area. The pain is typically worse at night, after a long period sitting down, or after prolonged physical activity.

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Ballet dancer, a Dr. John S. Kirchner patient

Snapping Hip Syndrome Causes and Risk Factors

Snapping hip syndrome is most often caused by tightness in the hip muscles and tendons. This is common in people who participate in sports that require repeated hip movements, especially dancing. For this reason, snapping hip syndrome is sometimes called dancer’s hip. Other sports associated with snapping hip syndrome include horseback riding, running, and gymnastics.

 Muscle tightness is also common during adolescent growth spurts. As a result, young athletes are more susceptible to snapping hip syndrome than adults.

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Diagnosing Snapping Hip Syndrome

Most patients do not seek a diagnosis for snapping hip syndrome unless it causes pain. While treatment may not seem urgent, ignoring the condition is not always wise. Especially in athletes, untreated snapping hip syndrome may evolve into more serious conditions, including hip bursitis.

Diagnosing snapping hip syndrome begins with a physical examination. The physician asks the patient to perform certain movements to listen for snapping sounds and test the hip’s range of motion. They may also ask about whether it hurts, what activities cause snapping, and whether the patient has experienced any injury to the hip.

An X-ray may also be requested. This imaging test is best for examining dense structures like bone. While X-ray images of snapping hip syndrome do not typically show any abnormality, they may be used to rule out other possible problems with the joint.

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Dr. George Robert Booker examining patient’s hip while they lie on table

Treatment Options for Snapping Hip Syndrome

The primary treatment approach for snapping hip syndrome is physical therapy. Patients are given a series of targeted stretches to perform regularly. These stretches help to lengthen the hip muscles and tendons, reducing the snapping. Ice packs and pain management medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may be used to reduce discomfort. Severe pain and inflammation may be addressed with corticosteroid injections.

In the rare case that snapping hip syndrome does not respond to conservative treatments, surgery may be recommended. The goal of surgery is to remove any floating pieces of damaged cartilage, allowing the joint to operate normally without catching.

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Dr. William S. Craig and team member looking at computer screen in medical office

Meet Our Team

Southlake Orthopaedics is home to a highly skilled, multi-specialty team of certified physicians and other medical professionals. They coordinate their various sports medicine expertise to treat every aspect of a patient’s condition, serving at every stage from diagnosis to recovery. Meet the team here:

Access Treatment for Snapping Hip Syndrome in AL

If you have snapping hip syndrome, do not neglect it and risk worse complications. Find less pain, more living at Southlake Orthopaedics. We provide caring and compassionate services for a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including snapping hip syndrome, at convenient locations in Hoover or Birmingham-Grandview, AL. To learn more about treatments for hip pain, or to schedule an appointment and begin discussing your care, contact us today.

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Adam M. Lukasiewicz, M.D.

Dewey H. Jones, M.D.

George Robert Booker, M.D.

John S. Kirchner, M.D.

Jonathan Isbell, M.D.

Michael F. Blum, M.D.

Michael T. Ellerbusch, M.D.

Richard L. “Beau” Grantier, M.D

William D. Krauss, D.O.