Snapping Hip?

Chronic hip pain is a common condition that can affect people of all ages and activity levels. According to Dr. William Morgan, 30-40% of those who have a history of playing sports and 12-15% of adults over age 60 may develop the condition¹. One of the most common forms of hip pain is snapping hip syndrome (SHS), also known as coxa saltans. This type of hip pain is characterized by an audible or palpable snap of the hip joint, which can occur on one side or both hips, be painful or painless, and may not always have an obvious or knowable cause¹.

The snapping noise is due to the iliopsoas (hip flexor tendon) or the iliotibial (IT) band located on the side of the leg. When the iliopsoas is involved, this is referred to as the “internal type” of SHS, which is reproduced by extending and internally rotating the hip and moving into flexion and external rotation where the snap is reproduced as it rides over the femoral head. When the IT band is involved (referred as the “external type”), the snapping is due to the tendon sliding over the greater trochanter when the hip is moved from extension to flexion. Both types are referred to as extra-articular in nature as the cause is beyond the hip joint itself. There are also intra-articular causes of SHS from pathologies such as from loose bodies, torn labrum, and/or fracture. Intra-articular cases are generally more serious in nature and may require more aggressive treatment. To complicate matters, intra- and extra- articular SHS can co-occur, especially with the iliopsoas variant of SHS¹.

A comprehensive literature review found that people who frequently engage in activities that require hip movements at extreme rotations are more likely to develop symptomatic SHS—especially young gymnasts and ballet dancers. Due to the size and growth of the pelvis during development, young women are also at elevated risk¹. If you are experiencing hip pain, we recommend scheduling an appointment with Morgan Chiropractic. Our team of experts can help diagnose and treat your condition, so you can get back to doing the things you love¹