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Dealing with Dancer’s Hip: Snapping Hip Syndrome

Last updated on February 1, 2019 By Kira Davis MPT Leave a Comment

Snapping hip syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by a popping or snapping sound when you bend, straighten, or rotate your hip. This is not a specific functional diagnosis, but is more of a descriptor. This dysfunction is more medically known as coxa saltans (Latin for dancer’s hip). It is less formally but more commonly called snapping hip syndrome.

Types

A snapping hip is caused by various mechanical dysfunctions. Snapping can be within the joint (intra-articular) or outside of the joint (extra-articular).

Intra-Articular Snapping

Intra-articular snapping hip tends to be more painful and intense. The deep snapping sensation or sound is an indicator of more serious issues, such as cartilage damage, loose bodies within the joint or a labral or ligamentous tear.

Extra-Articular Snapping

Extra-articular snapping hip can happen on the outside of the leg or in the groin area. When this happens on the outside of the leg it is usually due to tight soft tissue structure, such as the gluteal tendons or iliotibial band snapping over the boney outer prominence on the thigh, called the great trochanter. When the snapping is happening closer to the groin, it is likely due to a longer hip flexor muscle that is getting caught on another boney prominence deeper in the hip, called the lesser trochanter.

Diagnosis

Aside from the obvious symptoms and clinical exam, this can be diagnosed with an MRI or ultrasound. Ultrasound can be helpful because it can help determine exactly which structures are compromised by using the visual aide, during recreation of the movement that elicits the symptoms or snap.

Treatment

Treatment for a snapping hip is based on the severity and cause of the dysfunction.

RICE

Treatment for less painful and less chronic cases can include a basic regimen of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

Corticosteroid Injection

For a painful snapping hip that is caused by soft tissue rubbing across the trochanters, pain may be due to bursa inflammation. Some medical providers may inject a corticosteroid in the area of the bursa to help decrease inflammation. Intervention via injection is not always a permanent fix.

Surgery

In more severe cases, surgery may be indicated. This can be particularly helpful if there is an intra-articular pathology. However, surgical soft tissue releases have been done to lengthen muscle or fascia structures that are too short, as well.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can be quite helpful in decreasing pain from snapping hip syndrome. The first thing that needs to happen is that a therapist needs to complete a thorough exam to determine the likely root of the snapping pathology. Once this is determined, a personalized plan of care can be created to assist the patient on their road to recovery.

If you are a dancer suffering from snapping hip syndrome, contact us to have an evaluation done by our dance injury specialist.

Filed Under: Dance, Exercise & Fitness



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About Kira Davis MPT

Kira Davis has been practicing as a licensed physical therapist (license #PT870656) in the outpatient orthopedic setting since 2006 in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. She received her Masters of Physical therapy in 2005 from Howard University and her Bachelor of Science with a concentration in the Pre-Physical Therapy program in 2003 from Howard University. She has experience addressing many types of sports injuries and is herself an avid soccer player. Trained in classical dance since the age of 3 and an active dance student, she strives to be one of the area's elite physical therapists for the dance community.

FTC Compliance Disclaimer: PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.

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DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for Educational Purposes Only and is not designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any health conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements about these health topics or any suggested product compositions. Answers to questions submitted are merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given. PhysioDC insists that all patients receive approval from a prescribing physician prior to starting a structured exercise program involving any of the exercises included on this site. PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.