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Snapping Hip Syndrome
Some joints might click or clunk readily, like your knuckles or neck. The hip is not a joint we click like this, but sometimes it does feel like it. There are a few reasons why the hip might click (or “snap”), but when we talk about the diagnosis “snapping hip”, we are talking about muscles.
Snapping Hip Overview
Snapping Hip Syndrome is a usually painless condition. It is characterised by the sound or sensation of a “snap” around the hip. This might happen when moving from sitting to standing or vice versa, or stepping out to the side.
Anterior or Internal Type
There is a deep muscle within the abdomen called psoas, which blends into a muscle deep in the hip- iliacus. They are grouped together as “iliopsoas” (the “p” is silent), and this is the cause of anterior or internal type Snapping Hip Syndrome.
Psoas is often blamed for a lot of things, from back pain to digestive problems. What we know for certain is that it is a hip flexor. Sitting requires flexed hips, and in our modern world, most of us sit more than we should. If iliopsoas is too tight, it can flick over a number of bony prominences in the front of the pelvis. The psoas also helps to stabilise the lower back, so let your osteopath know if you have any lower back symptoms that may be relevant.
Lateral or External Type
This is the most common cause of a snapping hip. The muscle that causes this may already be on your radar, particularly if you are a runner. The ITB (iliotibial band) is a long band of tissue that runs down the outside of the thigh and into the side of the knee. At the top, it blends into a muscle called TFL (tensor fascia lata). ITB is considered a stabiliser of the knee, but it is not a true muscle, it’s a bit more like a ligament. TFL is the muscle that controls the tension in ITB.
At the top of the thigh bone, there is a bit of bone that sticks out quite prominently. You can probably find it on yourself by touch or looking in a mirror. This is the point that ITB flicks over in the lateral type. As mentioned above, the role of ITB is to stabilise the knee- so to solve your problem we need to look at the knee as well. Sometimes ITB gets tight in response to an injury, other times it seems to come out of nowhere. Either way, treating the muscle without finding the root cause is unlikely to be a long term solution. We will work to find out why your ITB is reacting like this before treating.
Other Causes of Your Symptoms
Not all hips that snap can be diagnosed as snapping hips. Snapping that comes with pain or locking of the joint may be caused by a problem within the joint itself. Sometimes osteoarthritic hips will feel clicky, but this is due to the joint surface no longer being smooth. Other problems with the joint’s cartilage, such as an injury to the lip at the edge of the ball and socket, can cause similar symptoms. Your osteopath will assess your joint and listen to your symptoms to determine whether or not this is what is happening in your case.
Osteopathy for Snapping Hip Syndrome
Osteopaths are qualified to help you manage muscular problems like this. During your appointment we will take a detailed case history to try and get to the bottom of your symptoms. If your hip symptoms are caused by a tight muscle, there will be a cause for it. Sometimes this is quite clear, and we can tell by the way you move what needs to be done. Other times it may be more subtle and require more thought and questioning. We may want to investigate areas that might seem completely unrelated, so come prepared for examination and treatment above and below your symptomatic area.
As well as working back to the cause, we will also be looking for areas that may have compensated for the hip. Although Snapping Hip Syndrome is painless in itself, the process of the muscle flicking over can predispose the development of bursitis.
You can book an appointment in Farnborough for your hip here.