What is snapping hip syndrome?
Snapping hip syndrome, also known as coxa saltans, is a condition caused by muscles and tendons surrounding your hip joint. When you move, your tight muscles or tendons may snap or pop. The sound or sensation can occur with or without pain and can affect one hip or both.
About 5 to 10 percent of the population is affected by snapping hip syndrome. For most people, the condition is painless and doesn’t cause any harm. However, overuse of the hip joint can lead to discomfort and long-term symptoms. And sometimes the snapping can be a sign of other underlying conditions.
You could be more likely to experience a snapping hip if you play a sport or have a job that requires constant bending and significant motion at your hip. The condition is sometimes called “dancer’s hip” because it’s so common in dancers.
Types of snapping hip syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome is named differently depending on where it happens.
-
External snapping hip
The most common place for a snapping hip is on the side, where the iliotibial (IT) band slides over part of the thighbone called the greater trochanter. When the hip is straight, the IT band is behind the trochanter. When the hip bends, the band moves in front of it. Since the IT band is tight, like a stretched rubber band, it snaps over the trochanter, creating the snapping sound you hear.
-
Internal snapping hip
Internal snapping hip happens in front and just inside the hip when the hip flexor tendons slide and catch on bony structures at the front of the hip joint. This snapping usually occurs when moving from a bent to a straight position. As the flexor muscle stretches, it briefly catches on the hip bone before snapping back into place. It is the second most common type of snapping hip syndrome.
-
Intra-articular snapping hip
Intra-articular hip injuries occur within the hip joint itself. Common issues include damage to the articular cartilage lining the ball and socket, acetabular labral tears (tears in the cartilage that rims the hip socket), hip dysplasia or broken bone fragments and debris trapped in the joint following a fracture or dislocation.
Snapping hip syndrome symptoms
As its name indicates, snapping hip syndrome often involves a snapping or clicking sound. While it’s usually painless, some people may feel a clicking or popping sensation when moving their hip.
Other symptoms can include:
- Inflammation
- Swelling
- Leg muscle weakness
- Discomfort (a feeling like the hip might pop out)
- Decreased range of motion in the hip
- Difficulty with physical activity
- Increased pain after activity
When to see a doctor
The symptoms of snapping hip syndrome usually develop over time and increase with overuse. These can take months to years to cause any issues or concerns. See your doctor if you have any signs of a snapping hip, including hip pain and weakness. A physical exam can help pinpoint the problem area, so you can get the treatment you need.
Snapping hip syndrome causes
Hip pain and popping happen when the muscles and tendons around your hip are too lax or too tight. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. The snapping or popping sound occurs when the tissue moves over a bony ridge in your hip joint.
Snapping hip syndrome risk factors
Repetitive hip motions
Activities like running, soccer, gymnastics, and dance that involve repeated hip movements can increase the risk.
Recent growth spurts
Young people who have recently gone through a growth spurt are more likely to experience snapping hip.
Sex
Women are slightly more likely to develop the condition than men.
Poor physical conditioning
Lack of strength and flexibility can raise the risk.
Inadequate warm-up
Not warming up properly before physical activity can make snapping hip more likely.
Flat feet
Having flat feet can increase the risk.
Valgus lower extremity alignment
This occurs when the knees point toward each other while the feet remain straight ahead.
Trauma
Injury or trauma can lead to snapping hip syndrome suddenly.
Complications
Typically, snapping hip syndrome doesn’t have many complications. However, if you don’t take steps to rest or treat the condition, you could develop:
- Hip bursitis (also known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome): Swelling and pain in the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions the hip joint
- A torn hip labrum: Damage to the cartilage that lines your hip socket
Diagnosing snapping hip syndrome
The first step in diagnosing snapping hip syndrome is a physical exam. This will help your doctor determine the cause of the snapping sensation and popping sounds. If needed, imaging tests can be used to get a detailed picture of your hip and provide a clearer idea of what’s going on inside the joint.
-
Medical history and exam
Your doctor will want to know where the snapping occurs—on the inside or outside of the hip—and if you have any symptoms other than snapping and popping. During the physical exam, your doctor may try to recreate the snapping and popping by moving your legs and hips in different directions. The way your tendon moves when you bend or straighten your hip will help determine what’s causing your issues.
-
Imaging
Based on your physical exam, your doctor may order imaging tests to determine what’s causing your snapping hip, particularly if you have pain and inflammation. Your provider may need to rule out another condition to confirm a diagnosis of snapping hip syndrome.
Imaging tests may include:
- MRI scan: An MRI may help diagnose external snapping hip syndrome by showing your doctor whether you have problems in your IT band or other muscles.
- MRI arthrography: This imaging test combines MRI with a contrast dye to help show problems inside the hip that might be causing internal snapping hip syndrome.
- Ultrasound: A doctor may order an ultrasound if they can’t see any snapping during your physical exam. An ultrasound can show a tendon move over your bone and help determine if tendonitis, bursitis or other conditions cause your symptoms.
- X-ray: X-rays are vital to understand the hip anatomy and they can rule out other conditions, such as hip dysplasia and femoroacetabular impingement, that could be causing your symptoms.
Snapping hip syndrome treatment
The first step in treatment usually involves resting and adjusting your activities. Depending on the cause of your snapping hip, your doctor may also suggest other treatment options.
Lifestyle changes
Resting and reducing activities that cause your symptoms will give your muscles and tendons the time they need to heal. Over-the-counter pain medications, including ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can reduce inflammation and relieve your pain.
Always remember to warm up and stretch your hip muscles before exercising and set aside time to recover.
Physical therapy
Your physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan to help you recover from snapping hip syndrome, focusing on pain relief, improving movement, building strength, and preventing future injury. The plan may include exercises, stretches, and treatments like ice, heat, ultrasound, or manual therapy to reduce pain and improve motion.
As you progress, your therapist will guide you through strength-building exercises using equipment like resistance bands or weights. The goal is to speed recovery, return to activities, and prevent re-injury by strengthening and stretching the muscles around the hip and core.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Pain reduction: Using ice, heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, taping, or manual therapy techniques.
- Improving motion: Gentle movements, stretches, and specific exercises to restore normal hip and leg movement.
- Building strength: Exercises targeting the hip, core, and leg muscles to restore strength, power, and agility.
- Speeding recovery: Treatment and exercises to help you heal faster and return to normal activities.
- Return to activities: Exercises and work-retraining techniques to help you safely return to work, sports, and daily activities.
- Preventing re-injury: A home exercise program focused on strengthening and stretching muscles around the hip and core to reduce the risk of future injury.
Injections
An ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection is a treatment where a healthcare professional uses an ultrasound to guide the injection of anti-inflammatory medication directly into the painful area. This can help reduce pain, improve your range of motion, and make it easier for you to participate in physical therapy and other treatments.
Surgery
In rare cases where snapping hip doesn't improve with nonsurgical treatment, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. The type of surgery depends on the cause of the condition.
- Hip arthroscopy: In this procedure, your surgeon inserts a small camera (arthroscope) into your hip joint to view images on a monitor. They use these images to guide small surgical tools. Since the tools are thin, only small incisions are needed, compared to the larger ones required for traditional surgery. Hip arthroscopy is often used to remove or repair torn labrum fragments.
- Open procedure: In some cases, a larger incision is needed to allow the surgeon better access to the hip joint. This type of surgery helps the surgeon see and address the problem more clearly.
Your orthopedic surgeon will help determine the best approach based on your specific needs.
Locations
With orthopedic centers in North and Central Texas, Baylor Scott & White offers the care you need, where and when you need it.
Baylor Scott & White - The Brenham Clinic
600 N Park St , Brenham, TX, 77833- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Cedar Park
910 E Whitestone Blvd , Cedar Park, TX, 78613- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - College Station Rock Prairie
800 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Georgetown
4945 Williams Dr , Georgetown, TX, 78633- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Round Rock 300 University
300A University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Greater Dallas Orthopaedics - Irving
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 630, Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Hip Preservation Center - McKinney
5220 W University Dr Ste 220, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin
5245 W US Hwy 290 Service Rd , Austin, TX, 78735
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Brenham
700 Medical Pkwy , Brenham, TX, 77833
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda
5330 Overpass Rd , Buda, TX, 78610
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centennial
12505 Lebanon Rd , Frisco, TX, 75035
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - College Station
700 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Grapevine
1650 W College St , Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest
100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd , Waco, TX, 76712
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lake Pointe
6800 Scenic Dr , Rowlett, TX, 75088
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway
100 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Marble Falls
810 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - McKinney
5252 W University Dr Highway 380 at Lake Forest Drive, McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Ste 100, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Plano
4700 Alliance Blvd , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock
300 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Sunnyvale
231 S Collins Rd , Sunnyvale, TX, 75182
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor
305 Mallard Ln , Taylor, TX, 76574
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
Baylor Scott & White Orthopaedic Trauma Associates - Dallas
3409 Worth St Ste 300, Dallas, TX, 75246- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopaedic Trauma Associates - Grapevine
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 230, Grapevine, TX, 76051- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopaedic Trauma Associates - McKinney
5220 W University Dr POB II, Ste 220, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas
3900 Junius St Ste 500, Dallas, TX, 75246- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Centennial
4401 Coit Rd Ste 203, Frisco, TX, 75035- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Flower Mound
1110 Parker Sq , Flower Mound, TX, 75028- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Grapevine
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 230, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - McKinney
5220 W University Dr POB II, Ste 300, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - North Garland
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 325, Garland, TX, 75044
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Park Cities
9101 N Central Expy Ste 300, Park Cities, TX, 75231
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Plano
4716 Alliance Blvd POB II, Ste 600, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas - Sunnyvale
341 Wheatfield Dr Ste 290, Sunnyvale, TX, 75182
Baylor Scott & White Orthopedic Associates of Dallas at The Star
3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 810, Frisco, TX, 75034- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Sports and Orthopedic Center
140 Hillcrest Medical Blvd , Waco, TX, 76712- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Institute - Mansfield
1776 N US 287 Ste 220, Mansfield, TX, 76063- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Institute - Midway Midlothian
4431 E US Hwy 287 , Midlothian, TX, 76065- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Sports Surgery Center at The Star
3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 410, Frisco, TX, 75034- Monday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Surgicare - Carrollton
4780 N Josey Ln , Carrollton, TX, 75010- Monday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246Hours of Operation
Hours of Operation
Office Hours
Frequently asked questions
-
Is surgery needed for snapping hip syndrome?
Surgery for snapping hip syndrome is rarely needed and is only considered if conservative treatments fail or there are underlying issues. It may be recommended after 2 to 3 months of no improvement, or if there is severe pain, swelling, limited movement, or conditions like damaged cartilage or loose bodies in the hip.
-
Can snapping hip syndrome be cured?
Snapping hip syndrome can often be cured with proper treatment, including rest, ice, stretching, and exercise to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Anti-inflammatory medications, massage therapy, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections may also help reduce pain and inflammation, promoting healing and restoring hip function.
-
Can snapping hip syndrome cause back pain?
Tightness in the iliopsoas muscle can tilt the pelvis forward, which makes the lower back curve too much. This can put extra stress on the lower spine, causing instability, especially in dance. To adjust, dancers often tighten the muscles around their lower back, leading to back and hip pain.
-
Is snapping hip syndrome common?
Snapping hip syndrome affects up to 10 percent of people. It is more common in females and is often caused by overuse, especially in activities involving repetitive hip movement, like dance, soccer, gymnastics, and running.
-
Is snapping hip syndrome painful?
Snapping hip syndrome is usually not painful, but it can cause discomfort, especially in the groin area during movement. It can also lead to bursitis, which is swelling in the hip joint that causes pain. In some cases, the condition may make it harder to do everyday activities.