My Hip Popped While Running

While running helps you stay fit, the repetitive high-impact stress on your joints can lead you to experience pain or unusual symptoms. This is especially true for the hips, where you moght notice a "popped" sensation as if your hip has slipped out of place or even a popping noise as you take a step. Even if your hip pops back into place, this can be a troubling occurrence that can signal some underlying muscle weakness.

Evaluate Your Symptoms

A number of running-related hip conditions exist that can cause your hip to pop or snap. To determine what could be affecting you, evaluate your symptoms: If you notice a pop or snap that seems to be coming from the top of the thigh, it can indicate snapping hip syndrome. If you feel an ache in the groin area when your hip moves out of socket, it can indicate a stress fracture. If the joint is popping and feels like it is grinding against your pelvis, it can indicate osteoarthritis of the hip or a cartilage injury. Most importantly, if your hip has popped such that you cannot put weight on your leg, see a physician immediately.

Snapping Hip

Snapping hip is a common occurrence among runners and dancers because of the mechanics of each exercise. When you run, you bend slightly at the hips to move each leg forward. During this motion, your iliotibial band, a tendon on the outer hip, snaps over your thighbone, creating a sound and sensation as if your hip is popping out of place. The repetitive running motion causes the iliotibial band to move back and forth, creating a popping sound. While this condition is more annoying than cause for concern, if the popping becomes painful or the hip seems to lock in the position, seek a physician's care. Snapping hip can lead to a painful condition known as hip bursitis if left untreated.

Stress Fracture

The repetitive impact runners endure can cause stress fractures in your bones. A fracture at the top of your hip bone can manifest as a hip pop that you might feel in the hip but actually occurs in the groin. You might initially think you pulled a muscle. If you stop running and still feel pain, however, it can indicate a stress fracture. Because stress fractures worsen with repeated running episodes, seek medical attention immediately.

Arthritis/Cartilage Injury

Your hip joint is subject to wear and tear over time, and the protective cartilage that cushions your hip joint can wear down. This can create a popping effect accompanied by a grinding sound that signals you have osteoarthritis in your hip. If your hip feels more like aching than a sharp pain when it popped, it can indicate arthritis. Another possible explanation is cartilage damage from frequent impact while running.

Considerations

If you experience hip popping that isn't painful, try making your strides shorter, which reduces hip strain. Running on a softer surface or switching to a new pair of running shoes that cushion can help to reduce hip popping.