Snapping hip syndrome is a condition characterized by hearing and/or feeling a snapping sensation around the hip joint. There are three types of snapping hip syndrome: external, internal, and intra-articular.
Internal snapping hip syndrome results in a snapping sensation within the front of the hip or groin area. It occurs as the tendon from the iliopsoas, the main hip flexor muscle, rubs against bone and creates friction. This can cause the tendon to catch or get stuck when the hip is moved.
Sometimes, no treatment is needed for internal snapping hip syndrome and symptoms can go away on their own. If symptoms continue to be bothersome, almost all cases can be treated with nonsurgical treatment, including rest from aggravating activities, physical therapy, and pain-relieving methods, if needed.
In rare cases, surgery may be performed to treat long-term cases of internal snapping hip syndrome, especially if there is pain. An iliopsoas release involves cutting the tendon of the psoas muscle to reduce tension while leaving the tendon from the iliacus untouched.
