A clicking or popping sensation in the hip during movement is a common occurrence, often referred to medically as Snapping Hip Syndrome (Coxa Saltans). While this feeling can be unsettling, it is usually a benign mechanical phenomenon. This condition affects an estimated 5% to 10% of the population, often without causing pain. If the snapping is accompanied by discomfort or limits physical activity, it may indicate an underlying issue that requires attention.
The Mechanical Cause of the Snapping Sensation
The audible “snap” or “pop” is a mechanical event caused by soft tissue moving abruptly over a bony prominence in the hip region. The hip is surrounded by numerous muscles and their connecting tendons, which must glide smoothly during motion. When a tendon or a band of connective tissue becomes thickened or tightened, its smooth path can be interrupted.
During movements like hip flexion or extension, the taut tissue catches momentarily on a bony knob, such as the greater trochanter on the femur. As the hip continues to move, the tissue overcomes the obstruction and rapidly slides past, creating a release of tension that is felt or heard as a snap. This friction and repetitive catching can sometimes lead to inflammation in the surrounding structures, which transitions the condition from a painless annoyance to a source of discomfort.
Distinguishing the Main Types of Snapping Hip
Snapping Hip Syndrome is classified into three distinct categories based on the anatomical location of the snapping tissue. This classification helps determine the underlying cause and the best approach to management. The two most frequent types are extra-articular, meaning they occur outside the hip joint itself, while the third is intra-articular, originating from within the joint capsule.
External (Lateral) Snapping Hip
The external type is the most common and involves the side of the hip, typically where the iliotibial (IT) band passes over the top of the thigh bone. The IT band is a long, thick strip of fascia that runs from the pelvis down the outside of the thigh to the knee. When the hip moves from a flexed to an extended position, the posterior edge of the IT band or the tendon of the gluteus maximus muscle slides forward across the greater trochanter, the large bony bump on the side of the femur.
Internal (Anterior) Snapping Hip
The internal type originates at the front of the hip and groin area, involving one of the major hip flexor tendons. This sensation is most often caused by the iliopsoas tendon, which connects the deep hip flexor muscles to the femur. The snapping occurs as this tendon moves over underlying bony structures, such as the iliopectineal eminence on the pelvis or the head of the femur. Internal snapping can be provoked by movements like extending the hip from a highly flexed position or rotating the leg away from the body.
Intra-articular (Inside the Joint) Snapping Hip
The intra-articular classification is generally considered more serious because it signals a problem originating from inside the hip joint space. This type of snapping or clunking is not caused by a tendon gliding over bone, but rather by an internal structural irregularity. Common causes include tears in the labrum, the ring of cartilage that rims the hip socket, or loose bodies such as fragments of bone or cartilage floating within the joint fluid. Because the source is structural, this snapping is frequently accompanied by pain, a sensation of locking, or hip instability.
Management and When to Seek Medical Help
For many people, Snapping Hip Syndrome is painless and requires no medical intervention beyond modifying activities that provoke the sensation. When the snapping is associated with minor discomfort or muscular tightness, conservative, non-surgical management is the first line of treatment. This includes rest and the temporary use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to address any localized swelling.
Physical therapy plays a significant role in resolving the mechanical issue. A therapist can prescribe specific stretching routines to increase the flexibility of the hip flexors and the IT band. They also focus on strengthening exercises for the muscles surrounding the hip, pelvis, and core to correct any muscle imbalances that may contribute to tendon friction.
You should seek a professional medical evaluation if the snapping is consistently painful, if the pain increases over time, or if the sensation limits your ability to walk or perform daily activities. Symptoms like a feeling of the joint locking, giving way, or persistent instability are particularly concerning and suggest a possible intra-articular cause.
A doctor will perform a physical examination and may order imaging tests like X-rays to check the bony structure or an MRI to visualize soft tissues like the labrum and tendons. If conservative measures fail to provide relief after several months, more advanced treatments may be considered. These can include targeted steroid injections to reduce inflammation in the affected tendon or bursa. In rare, severe cases—especially those involving intra-articular issues like labral tears—arthroscopic surgery may be recommended to repair the damage or lengthen a tight tendon.