Why Do I Hear My Hip Snapping And Popping?

hip snapping popping
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Do you wonder why you may hear your hip snap when you walk or feel a popping sensation when you get up from a chair?

Snapping hip syndrome or dancer’s hip, is a common condition for the elderly and athletes alike. You will know that you have snapping hip syndrome is you literally hear snapping, popping, or clicking coming from your hip area when walking, standing or moving your legs. For athletes like dancers, this condition may also bring pain and weakness in the hip, besides a clicking sensation and sound.

Despite how it may sound, the snapping is not caused by bone meeting bone. It is actually a tough band of tissue known as the iliotibial band that moving over a bony protrusion on the outer side of your hip called the greater trochanter. While other tendons may snap against other portions of your hip joint and make this same sound, this is the most common type of snapping hip syndrome.

You’ll experience snapping hip syndrome if the IT band, or other tendons in your hip, tighten. This is especially common after an injury to the hip for elderly patients as well as for athletes who bend their hips often, especially dancers.

Snapping hip syndrome will rarely cause much pain and can be treated conservatively most of the time. Anti-inflammatories and ice can help relieve irritation of the IT band. Stretching is often the best way to release tension in the tissues and return to normal range of motion without a popping sensation. An orthopedist can diagnose any conditions that may accompany snapping hip syndrome and can recommend a physical therapy program that will help alleviate tightness.

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