Snapping Hip

Snapping hip is exactly as it sounds, a snapping sensation around the hip joint with certain motions. Some patients describe this as a feeling as though the hip is subluxing or dislocating or sliding in and out of place. Others experience a clicking, snapping or clunking that may cause pain. This can certainly be debilitating from pain and a sensation of "instability" by patients with a fear of causing further problems. There are two types of snapping hip: internal and external.

Internal snapping hip refers to the motion of the iliopsoas tendon (a hip flexor muscle) over the edge of the acetabulum or socket. This can feel as though the hip is popping, or be characterized as anterior (front side) hip pain or groin pain. This is often noted if the hip is brought from an abducted and externally rotated position (like a "frog leg" position with the hip flexed and knee out to the side) to an adducted and internally rotated position (a straight leg position with the toes pointed to the other foot). This can be noted with running, hurdles, jumping, and cycling motions as examples. Internal snapping hip can lead to a tear in the hip labrum (cartilage rim around the hip socket).

External snapping hip refers to the motion of the iliotibial band (IT band) over the lateral aspect (side) of the greater trochanter of the femur (the normal bone bump that can be felt on the side of the hip). This normally glides smoothly with normal hip motion, but for a variety of reasons this can become abnormal, causing a sensation of snapping on the side of the hip along with pain. This is often reported by patients as a feeling that the hip is dislocating with fairly simple motions such as riding a bicycle or running. Pain from this is felt more on the lateral side (side portion of the hip) rather than in the groin (which is more common in internal snapping hip). External snapping hip can be associated with trochanteric bursitis (inflammation of the tissue on the side of the hip).

Both forms of snapping hip may benefit from physical therapy, however, often the internal form is treated with arthroscopic surgery, whereas most patients with external snapping hip will improve with physical therapy and possibly a local injection of anti-inflammatory medications. Occasionally, this is treated with "open" (a formal incision) or arthroscopic ("microscopic") surgery to either remove or lengthen tissue.