Do you hear or feel a popping sensation in your hip when you move? It may be snapping hip syndrome. While rarely dangerous, it can be bothersome. Fortunately, there are many ways you can manage this orthopedic condition and get back to your active lifestyle.

Understanding Snapping Hip

Your hip joint is where your thighbone meets your pelvis. Ligaments, muscles, tendons and other tissues keep the hip in place and help with its range of motion. When a muscle or tendon catches on bone, you experience a snapping sensation.

Snapping hip is typically caused by overuse of tight muscles and tendons around the hip. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the problem is more common in dancers and other athletes who participate in sports requiring lots of hip bending.

The various types of snapping hip fall under two main forms.

• External snapping hip. The thick band of fibers on the outside of your thigh (iliotibial band) catches on the greater trochanter, a large, wide piece of bone on top of your thighbone.
• Internal snapping hip. Most often, the tendon stretching across the front of the thigh (iliopsoas tendon) catches on bone sticking out along its path.

How Do You Fix a Snapping Hip?

Fortunately, snapping hip is not as serious as other conditions, such as a hip fracture. You can often treat it in the comfort of your home, though it may heal after six to 12 months of conservative treatment.

Do-it-yourself treatment options include:

• Medication therapy. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and swelling.
• Rest therapy. Stay off your feet and rest the hip.

When Your Hips Need Help

If at-home treatment doesn’t do the trick, contact your primary care sports medicine provider or visit Union Health’s Ortho Walk-in Clinic.

Based on your needs, your provider may recommend one of the following treatment options:

• Injections. Hip snapping can cause painful swelling in the sacs that cushion your hip joint. An injection of corticosteroid can help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• Physical therapy. Exercise and stretching may help fix a snapping hip and bring relief. A physical therapist helps stretch and strengthen the muscles that support your hip bones.
• Orthopedic surgery. When nonsurgical treatment doesn’t fix your snapping hip, you may benefit from surgery. Thanks to medical advances, orthopedic surgeons often correct snapping hip with tiny incisions. Known as arthroscopic surgery, this approach offers positive results with a quick recovery, minimal scarring and shorter hospitalization.

Are your hips giving you trouble? Find a provider at Union Health who can help care for your hips, other joints and the rest of your body.