Snapping hip syndrome causes a distinctive snapping sensation when the connective tissue protecting the hip shifts. It is common in athletes, especially dancers, gymnasts, and runners. Mild cases do not cause pain and may disappear with reduced physical activity. Severe cases may require surgery. Stretching before physical activity can help prevent it.
Snapping hip syndrome is a joint condition that causes the connective tissue that protects the hips to shift. When the hip joints move or bend, there is a distinctive snapping sensation due to the repositioning of the connective tissue. The condition tends to occur more often in athletes, especially dancers, gymnasts and runners.
The main symptom of cracking hip syndrome is a slight shifting or crunching noise when a person flexes the hip joints, such as when walking or playing football. Mild cases of the syndrome usually do not cause discomfort or pain and may lessen or disappear completely once a person reduces their physical activity. If the syndrome becomes more severe, a person may experience severe pain in the groin region in addition to a clicking sound.
The hip joints are connected to the thigh bones with a thick band of tissue. This tissue is responsible for helping reduce the friction between joints and bones during movement. If the hip joint is frequently moved or flexed within a short period of time, the connective tissue may loosen and no longer be able to fully cushion the area between the hip joints and the thigh bones. As the hip rubs against the thigh bones, it makes a crunching sound which indicates snapping hip syndrome.
Mild cases of snapping hip syndrome do not cause tenderness or pain and usually do not require medical attention. The syndrome may subside if a person stops moving the area repeatedly. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce any swelling or pain that occurs in the hip area.
You may need professional medical treatment if your hip starts to become severely painful or if movement becomes difficult. Severe cases of snapping hip syndrome typically occur if the connective tissue is completely worn away due to excessively frequent hip joint movements. A surgeon may then need to make a small incision near the joint area and repair the damaged connective tissue if it can’t heal on its own.
Even with treatment, any person who continually moves and flexes their hips is at risk of developing the syndrome. To prevent it from being a constant problem that inhibits athletic performance or comfortable movement, a person can hard stretch the muscles near the hips before engaging in any physical activity. Stretching these muscles can help gently loosen the connective tissues and prepare them for movement, so they are less likely to shift due to sudden movement.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
