Snapping Hip Syndrome is a painful condition that limits mobility in active people. Stretching the affected and surrounding muscles and tendons will reduce tightness and lower the occurrence in some cases. Inflamed or swollen muscles require rest and icing before attempting stretches to loosen and lengthen the muscles.
Identification
Snapping Hip Syndrome is a condition where the outside of the hip snaps as a person is walking or running. The main cause of snapping on the outside of the hip is a tight iliotibial band, or ITB, which runs from the knee to the hip and may become swollen or inflamed during repetitive actions. The main cause of snapping on the inside of the hip is a tight iliopsoas tendon, which passes through a groove in the pelvis.
Symptoms
The symptom of Snapping Hip Syndrome is the feeling that your hip is popping in and out of alignment as you walk or move. Runner, hurdlers and dancers who perform repetitive movements are common recipients of this ailment.
Iliotibial Stretches
Stretching the iliotibial band assists in lengthening the muscle to reduce the occurrence of Snapping Hip Syndrome. ITB stretches include a standing stretch and leaning stretch. The standing stretch involves crossing the healthy leg over front of the leg of the injured hip and bending at the waist to touch your toes. The leaning stretch involves holding the wall for support and leaning as you cross the healthy leg over the injured leg.
Supporting Muscle Stretches
Stretching the muscles that support the leg and hip helps to lengthen and strengthen them to prevent Snapping Hip Syndrome. Supporting leg stretches includes the quadriceps, hamstring and piriformis. The quadriceps stretch involves standing next to a wall and pulling the ankle of the injured leg towards your back end. A hamstring stretch involves lying flat on the floor in a doorway so you can lift and rest the injured leg against the wall. The piriformis stretch involves lying flat on your back with bent knees so you can place the ankle of the injured leg on top of the opposite knee for the stretch.
Considerations
Make an appointment with your physician if regular stretching does not lower the occurrence of Snapping Hip Syndrome. Your physician may require a CT Scan, MRI or other imaging diagnosis to pinpoint the problem in severe cases. Ask for treatment options and stretches designed for your specific condition.
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