BLOG: Ever Heard of a Snapping Hip?

Have you ever heard someone’s hip make this audible popping noise? Maybe you’ve felt it yourself…

That yucky feeling when your hip clicks as you straighten your leg from a flexed position at the hip. Sometimes it gets a little bit sore but it definitely doesn’t feel right.

Chances are this could be what we clinically call:

‘Snapping Hip Syndrome’

Sounds painful doesn’t it!?

In actual fact, the click itself is simply either your hip flexor tendon flicking over part of the pelvis, or your hip joint rubbing on joint surface.

Why does this happen?

Simple Answer:

Your core is underperforming causing changes in the position and muscle usage at the hip and pelvis

For those of you who love the detail…

The Cause of Snapping Hip Syndrome

One of your hip flexor tendons, the Psoas, connects your spine to your hip joint. It’s main job is to coordinate the position of the hip and spine – kind of like a marionette puppet. It can only really do its job properly when the core and the spinal muscles are working properly.

So when you feel the ‘click’ its a great indication that your core is under-performing, forcing your psoas muscle to work harder to keep the spine stable, at the same time as needing to produce hip movement. It then changes its position relative to the pelvis and starts snapping on the iliopectineal ridge of the pelvis and starts to change the position of the hip joint.

So, we know what it this Snapping Hip Syndrome is. I’m sure the next question is…

How Do You Fix a Snapping Hip?

Or maybe we should be asking… Do we even need to solve this problem?

A purist Chiro or Physio would say – absolutely you need to solve it. A disengaged core will overload your spine, pelvis and hip and expose you to potential injury.

Conversely, If it’s not always painful, and isn’t interrupting your ability to perform your everyday tasks do you need to fix the problem?

Or is it simply a matter of management?

That’s a question I can’t answer for you.. 

However,

If it is painful, affecting your everyday task, restricting you’re ability to perform as an athlete…

Or

You just want to get rid of it. We will help you!

It’s a simple problem to solve.. but that doesn’t mean it’s easy!

If you want your hip to go from snappy to happy

We need to assess the core, build it and teach it to work with your hips. There’s no hands on ‘release’ that will solve it!