Causes And Symptoms Of Snapping Hip Syndrome

Snapping hip syndrome is also known as dancer's hip, coxa saltans, and iliopsoas tendinitis. The primary symptom of the ailment is a snapping of the hip joint when the patient extends or flexes it. While the condition is not usually serious for most individuals, it is an occupational hazard for dancers and other athletes, as it often interferes with their ability to perform.

Doctors divide snapping hip syndrome into three categories. The first category, internal snapping hip, develops as a tendon slips over bony structures located at the front of the hip, and patients with this type often experience pain while running and pain that worsens with activity. The second type of this condition, external snapping hip, occurs when either a muscle or a tendon slides over the top of the greater trochanter, located at the top of the femur. Patients with this type may struggle to climb stairs, and they may feel as though their hip is about to snap out of its socket. The third type occurs due to cartilage damage. Patients with this type may have severe and sudden pain, and they typically have a reduced range of motion in the affected hip.