Snapping hip

A snapping, popping or clicking sensation in or around your hip when getting up from a chair, swinging your leg around, walking or running is referred to as snapping hip syndrome.

In most cases, the snapping is caused by the movement of a tight and thickened tendon over a bony prominence in upper thigh bone. It is usually not painful, but it may be an early sign of excessive loading on the hip, which may lead to very painful conditions including bursitis, tendinopathy and eventually hip arthritis.

Although in very few cases, the snapping may be associated with a cartilage tear or bits of broken off cartilage or bone in the joint space, and can lead to the hip locking up.

The most common site is on the outside of the hip where a band of connective tissue known as the iliotibial band snaps over the outer prominence of the thigh bone (the greater trochanter). When your thigh bends upwards (flexion), the band moves from behind to over and in front of the trochanter. If the band is too tight and thickened it may cause a snapping sound.

Tight and thickened tendons at the front of the hip (rectus femoris or iliopsoas tendons) can also snap over boney prominences at the front of the hip with hip movement.