Snapping Hip Syndrome

What is snapping hip syndrome?

Snapping hip syndrome is a condition in which you feel a snap on the outside or front portion of your hip as you walk or run. It may happen only occasionally or it may happen all the time.

How does it occur?

Several groups of muscles cross the hip as they pass from the thigh bone to the pelvis. When you bring your knee forward during walking, you may have a feeling of snapping in the hip. The snapping usually results from tightness in either the iliopsoas muscle or in the tensor fascia lata muscle.

What are the symptoms?

You feel snapping in your hip as you walk or run.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine your hip and thigh. He or she may be able to feel the muscle group that is snapping as the leg moves forward.

How is it treated?

• Since this problem usually occurs because some muscles are too tight and some muscles are too loose, you will be given exercises to both strengthen and stretch your hip and thigh muscles. Follow your provider’s instructions for doing exercises to help you recover.
• Take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, or other medicine as directed by your provider. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.
• If this area becomes inflamed, put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth on the area every 3 to 4 hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time.

How long will the effects last?

The symptoms from a snapping hip may last a long time. Exercises will help stretch and strengthen the muscles and tissue around your hip that lead to the snapping and will reduce the amount of snapping and discomfort.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities depends on how soon your hip recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. In general, the longer you have symptoms before you start treatment, the longer it will take to get better. The goal of rehabilitation is to return to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.

You may safely return to your normal activities when, starting from the top of the list and progressing to the end, each of the following is true:

• You have full range of motion in the affected hip compared to the unaffected hip.
• You have full strength of the affected hip compared to the unaffected hip.
• You can walk straight ahead without pain or limping.

How can I prevent snapping hip syndrome?

Snapping hip syndrome may be prevented by stretching the muscles that cross the hip from the pelvis to the thigh bone.