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🏥 Gotokuji Orthopedic Clinic / Patient Guide

Snapping Hip

What causes the "pop" or "click" in your hip

Snapping hip is when you hear a "pop" or "click" or feel a catching sensation when moving your hip joint.
It happens when the muscles or tendons around the hip slide over a bony bump.
There are two types: external (outside of the thigh) and internal (inner groin area).
In most cases, there is no pain and it is nothing to worry about.

1
You bend and extend your hip

Daily activities like walking, running, or lifting your leg

2
A tendon or ligament catches on a bony bump

The iliotibial band (external type) or iliopsoas tendon (internal type) slides over the bone

3
A "pop" sound or catching sensation occurs

The sound and feeling come from the tendon sliding over the bone

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A "pop" or "click" sound when moving the hip
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A catching or locking feeling in the joint
Often painless — usually just observed
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If pain is present, treatment may be needed
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Monitoring
No special treatment is needed if there is no pain
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Stretching
Improves flexibility of the muscles and tendons around the hip
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Rehabilitation
Strengthens muscles around the hip if pain is present
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Advanced Imaging
Ultrasound or MRI can be used to look into the cause
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Without pain, monitoring is usually all that is needed

If the snapping is painless, it is usually fine to simply keep an eye on it. If there is pain or stiffness, stretching and rehabilitation can help. If you are curious about the cause, an ultrasound exam can help look into it.

💡 When to See a Doctor

  • If there is only a sound and no pain, most people need no specific treatment
  • If pain is present, stretching and rehabilitation can help
  • See a doctor if it interferes with movement or sports
  • If you are curious about the cause, we can easily check with ultrasound