Dancer's Hip Treatment in Dallas and Frisco, TX

Snapping Hip Syndrome, Coxa Saltans

The hip structure is quite magnificent in the role it plays in helping the body operate. Our muscles control hip movement, and when you consider just how often we use our hips daily for different tasks, the hips’ full capabilities are nothing short of amazing. But, like most things in life, after so much wear and tear, our hip bones, muscles, and joints become weak. One of the potential conditions that the hips can suffer from is called dancer’s hip.

Dancer’s hip has many commonly referenced names. However, it is most often called snapping hip syndrome. This condition is generally brought on by repetitive hip movements that, over time, cause stress to the front of the hip as the hip bends. Generally, someone with a dancer’s hip may hear or experience a snapping sensation of the hip while rising, bending, or a similar type of motion when using the hip joint.

Dancer’s Hip and Snapping Hip Syndrome Treatment in Dallas & Frisco, Texas

Sometimes hip pain can be eliminated with rest or conservative treatment. One should try to avoid repetitive movement causing the snapping sound, if possible, as a first means of snapping hip syndrome treatment.

For example, if you notice a particular back and forth motion causing the popping sound in your hip, avoid this motion when possible. If your hip or hip joint causes painful swelling in your hip region, contact our experienced hip specialists in Dallas & Frisco by calling SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy.

Not all cases of dancer’s hip and snapping hip syndrome can cause someone’s hip pain. However, if at any point you experience hip pain or if a snapping hip starts to bother you, it is essential to have your affected hip evaluated. We understand that, for some, hip pain can be excruciating. For this reason, we aim to provide you with top-tier treatment for your injury. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 469-200-2832 today.

What Is a Dancer’s Hip?

The hip is designed as a ball and socket joint, compounded between the femoral head and pelvis bone. The complex structure of a hip joint carries extensive body parts, including hip muscles, cartilage, ligaments, bones, and other essential structures. So, it’s understandable why the hip and thigh bones play a crucial role in operating the body’s natural ability to demonstrate hip motions.

The labrum, which is strong fibrous cartilage, works as a sealer to cover the acetabulum portion of the hip bone. In addition to the labrum, ligaments, which connect bones together, and tendons, which connect muscles to bones, work together in joint stabilization to encase the hip while controlling hip movements.

Dancer’s hip, or snapping hip syndrome, occurs when you feel or hear a snapping or popping sound in the hip while running, walking, swinging your legs, or getting up from a chair. When a bony protrusion in the hip region endures movement over tendons or muscles, it can cause a snapping sound to occur. The “snapping sound” can take place either on the back, front, or side of the hip.

What Causes Dancer’s Hip?

Dancer’s hip syndrome is often related to tightness in the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip. Although tension in the hip can stem from a number of things, the most common occurrence is from repeated stress or strain of the same back and forth motion, which is likely causing the snapping hip sound. Dancer’s hip or snapping hip syndrome, which is caused by this particular repeated force, often occurs in athletes and dancers, hence the condition’s name.

Torn Labrum

Other causes of snapping hip syndrome could be related to a torn labrum. When your hip problems relate to catching or snapping hip from a torn labrum, this can damage the cartilage covering the bones of the joint. Although this isn’t the only problem that can cause dancer’s hip syndrome, it can sometimes cause painful inflammation.

Cartilage Tears

Additional causes of dancer’s hip could have underlying issues that stem from a cartilage tear, skin that is hanging around the cartilage, or skin that has become loose around the cartilage. Occasionally, when torn or loose cartilage has caused damage, the pieces of cartilage or bone in the joint space can lead to a hip snapping sensation. Furthermore, on rare occasions, this also could cause locking in the hip, which can become disabling and painful.

Possible Contributing Factors

Potential contributing factors can include:

Coxa vara
An obtrusive greater trochanter
Fibrotic scar tissue
Smaller width of lateral pelvic
Past surgical issues with anterolateral knee instability

Types of Snapping Hip Syndrome

Individuals who notice clicking, popping, or snapping of their hip or hips while making distinct movements are rightful to assume dancer’s hip or snapping hip syndrome is present.

For those with underlying bony growths, hip snapping can be visibly seen. The person’s actual hip muscles slide or shudder with particular moves. For others, the sound can only be heard with specific movements. Regardless of being seen, heard, or both, the chances that an individual will feel the hip snapping as it pops or even catches in their hip joint, are great.

The three main types of snapping hip syndrome are identified as internal snapping hip, external snapping hip, or intra-articular snapping hip.

Internal Snapping Hip Syndrome

The internal snapping hip causes problems at the front of the hip region. Generally, when a tendon moves over bony prominences near the front portion of the hip joint, this creates pressure and tension. It then releases the pressure with a “snap.”

Internal snapping hip symptoms are often caused when one of two things occurs:

When either the iliopsoas tendon or iliopsoas muscle, attaching the inner hip muscles to the femoral head, shifts over a protrusion of the pelvic bone (iliopectineal eminence.)
The rectus femoris tendon (quadriceps muscles) moves over the rounded femoral head (the “ball” in the hip’s ball-and-socket joint.)

Both the iliopsoas tendon and the rectus femoris are commonly referred to as hip flexors.

People with internal snapping hip syndrome may experience:

The hip makes a popping sound as the hip extends from a flexed position, over 90 degrees. For example, when the hip rotates the leg against the body or when rising from a seated position.
Hip popping followed by a sudden sharp pain at the front of the hip, within the groin.
Pain that worsens with strenuous activity, as repeated irritation causes the tendon to become inflamed.

External Snapping Hip Syndrome

External snapping hip occurs when the muscle or tendon slides over the greater trochanter (bone at the top of the femur). As the muscles slide over this portion of the hip, this creates tension, followed by a release and snapping sensation on the hip’s outside.

External snapping hip symptoms are often caused when one of two things occur:

Gluteus maximus muscles move over the greater trochanter.
Iliotibial band maneuvers over regions of the rounded protrusion of the greater trochanter. The wide strip containing fibrous tissues of the iliotibial band stretches & extends down the outside of the upper leg area, from the pelvis to below the knee.

External snapping hip syndrome may be a sign that the gluteus maximus or iliotibial band has become tight, which is known as an iliotibial band stretch.

Individuals with external snapping hip syndrome may experience:

Snapping hips during hip extension and flexion, like when walking, running, and climbing stairs.
Popping of the hip or hips followed by sudden sharp pain on the outside of your hip.
The hip feels as if it were going to come out of the hip socket when a snapping sound occurs.
The hip snapping or popping can often be seen as the iliotibial band passes and the muscle snaps, causing the overlying skin to shudder.
Painful symptoms when you experience snapping hip that develop gradually. The pain may initially cause mild annoyance and worsen over months.

Snapping Hip Joint Due to Cartilage Injury

When a snapping hip joint stems from a cartilage injury, a Frisco & Dallas physical therapy specialist from SPORT Orthopedics is here to offer your hip pain and tendon shifts a solution.

Your cartilage injury could develop suddenly and may be brought on by a fall or other trauma. Generally, after a cartilage injury, the hip often suffers a limited range of motion or catching sensation.

Common cartilage injuries causing snapping hip syndrome include:

An acetabular labral tear- This tear causes a snapping sensation as well as pain in the groin area and accounts for over 80 % of intra-articular related snapping hip cases.
Loose bodies of material in the hip- This occurs when the hip joint endures fragments of soft tissues leading to bones getting trapped between the hip’s ball and socket.
An injury to the articular cartilage- This cartilage injury causes friction to reduce between the bones at the joint.

Frisco & Dallas Dancer’s Hip Treatment

The SPORT specialists in Frisco & Dallas, Texas understand the painful inflammation and limited activities caused by dancer’s hip. Individuals experiencing hip pain can often reduce their symptoms with non-surgical treatments. However, if non-surgical treatments fail to resolve your pain, surgery may be recommended.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Snapping Hip Joint

Rest

When the hip endures painful inflammation, give your body a break, rest, and limit muscle or tendon movements as much as possible to give your hip a few days of rest.

Medication

When resting alone does not resolve the painful swelling in your hips, a doctor will sometimes recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Generally, these medications can be purchased over the counter without a prescription.

Physical Therapy

Often, a doctor will recommend physical therapy in combination with medication to help your painful hips. Physical therapy may consist of stretched rubber band exercises, massaging the built-up muscle tension, ultrasounds using high frequency sound waves, retraining posture, and iontophoresis options for those avoiding steroid injections. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with an experienced Dallas physical therapist.

Steroid Injections

Often, when the pain becomes a greater discomfort in your daily activities, a doctor may recommend steroid injections to ease your pain and level of discomfort. Typically, injections are given with instructions to combine rest or physical therapy, depending on your doctor’s recommendation.

Surgical Treatments for Snapping Hip Joint

IT Band Release

Painful consistent hip pain could potentially seek relief from the surgical treatment of the IT band release. In this operation, strategic incisions to the iliopsoas tendon are constructed to lengthen and help reduce tension, which causes the hip snapping.

Arthroscopic Hip Debridement

When cartilage injuries occur, arthroscopic hip debridement may be a recommended surgical treatment for injuries. It is particularly effective for those which result in loose pieces of cartilage being stuck between the hip’s ball and socket joint. This operation consists of the surgeon making a small incision to open and enter the hip joint cavity to remove debris.

Acetabular Labrum Repair

MRIs or X-rays that provide proof of a tear to the cartilage around the hip’s socket or acetabulum will likely require acetabular labrum repair surgery. This procedure is done arthroscopically due to the tiny incision placements needed.

Orthopedic Specialists for Snapping Hip and Dancer’s Hip

The SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy specialists in Frisco & Dallas, Texas are here to help. When the pain from dancer’s hip syndrome has taken over your life, take back control and call our specialists. Whether non-surgical treatment or surgical treatment is needed, our Frisco & Dallas specialists are here for your snapping hip syndrome needs. To schedule an appointment with us, please call 469-200-2832 today.