Treatments Classes

Snapping Hip Syndrome

Snapping hip syndrome is a condition where you hear or fee a snapping sensation in the hip during movement. It is usually harmless but can be annoying or painful, especially if it leads to inflammation. There are two types of snapping hip syndrome; External snapping hip which occurs when the UT band or gluteus maximus tendons slides over the greater trochanter of the femur, and internal snapping hip which is caused by the iliopsoas tendon sliding over bony structures in the hip such as the femoral head or iliopectineal eminence.

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Symptoms

1. A snapping or popping sensation in the hip during certain movements.
2. Occasional pain or discomfort, especially if there’s inflammation.
3. In severe cases, it can lead to limited mobility or weakness in the hip.

Treatments

Most cases of snapping hip syndrome are treated conservatively with a high success rate with low risk [1]. Rest and avoidance of any activity that are thought to induce snapping are key initially, which will allow the muscles to heal and reduce pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also beneficial during this stage to relieve inflammation. Initial treatment with a physiotherapist is important to identify the source of the muscle tightness that is responsible for the snapping sensation [2]. Physiotherapy focusing on stretching of the hip musculature may allow the muscles or bones to lose contact with the tendon during hip movement thereby reducing the snapping sensation, which is a similar effect achieved through manual therapy techniques such as massage [2]. Strengthening of the surrounding area has also been shown to be important as it addresses any imbalances within the muscles which may be facilitating the snapping [3].
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been shown to be effective for multiple different tendinopathies as it has direct benefits on the tendon healing process by promoting the formation of new blood vessels [4]. Some research supports the use of ESWT and home exercises for snapping hip syndrome with a long term reduction in pain being reported when this is combined [5].
If rest, medications, and physiotherapy do not provide relief, onward referral for anaesthetic or corticosteroid injections in the involved bursa or tendon sheath can provide pain relief [3].

References

1. Henning, P. T. (2014). The running athlete: stress fractures, osteitis pubis, and snapping hips. Sports Health, 6(2), 122-127.
2. Walker, P., Ellis, E., Scofield, J., Kongchum, T., Sherman, W. F., & Kaye, A. D. (2021). Snapping hip syndrome: a comprehensive update. Orthopedic reviews, 13(2).
3. Via, A. G., Fioruzzi, A., & Randelli, F. (2017). Diagnosis and management of snapping hip syndrome: a comprehensive review of literature. Rheumatology (Sunnyvale), 7(4), 228.
4. Wang, C. J., Huang, K. E., Sun, Y. C., Yang, Y. J., Ko, J. Y., Weng, L. H., & Wang, F. S. (2011). VEGF modulates angiogenesis and osteogenesis in shockwave-promoted fracture healing in rabbits. Journal of Surgical Research, 171(1), 114-119.
5. Furia, J. P., Rompe, J. D., & Maffulli, N. (2009). Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment for greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The American journal of sports medicine, 37(9), 1806-1813.
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