Snapping hip in children and young people
শিশু ও তরুণদের স্ন্যাপিং হিপ (নিতম্বে খট খট শব্দ হওয়া)
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Snapping hip is common in children and young people who are active.
Symptoms of a snapping hip
Snapping hip happens in some of the muscles and tendons around the hip when your child moves. It can feel like clicking, popping or snapping. It can be painful, but not always.
You can usually feel the clicking at the outside of the hip, though it can also be felt at the front. It isn't always in the same spot, and it can show up in different areas around the hip.
Your child could also feel:
- like their hip is dislocating or coming out even though it's not
- pain at the hip and the knee
- their leg feeling weaker
- swelling in the area of the clicking
Because of the discomfort from the clicking, they might find it hard to take part in their normal activities.
Call a doctor or go to hospital if:
- your child can't put any weight at all through their leg
- your child has significant pain in their hip and is unwell with a temperature
- there's been new, significant trauma within the last 7 days, for example a fall from height or a direct blow to the hip
See a doctor if your child:
Contact a doctor if your child:
- often limps after activities
- has hip pain that wakes them at night
- avoids activities due to increasing symptoms
- has a lump in or around the hip that does not go away
If the doctor's chamber is closed, call a doctor or the 16263 health line.
What causes snapping hip?
Snapping hip happens when a tendon slides over a bony part of the hip. The tendon catches as it moves, and that's what gives the snapping feeling or sound.
Most of the time the cause is tightness in the muscles around the hip. This tightness can come on after a growth spurt. It can also happen in children who do the same movements again and again for sports and other activities.
Treatment of snapping hip
Snapping hip is mainly treated by stretching the tight muscles and tendons around the hip. Your child should also stay away from activities that irritate it.
Stretching and strengthening the muscles and tendons around the hip will help your child's flexibility, and that should ease their symptoms.
Try to encourage your child to stay as active as they can, within the limits of their symptoms.
Treatment for pain caused by snapping hip
Medicine for pain can help your child move more comfortably, and that can help their recovery with snapping hip.
If you're not sure which pain medicine is suitable for your child, speak to your local pharmacist.
Treating with ice
Putting ice on your child's hip can help reduce inflammation. Take care to protect their skin from a burn by using a barrier, like a towel, between the ice and the skin. Never place ice directly on their skin. Leave a few hours between treatments.
If your child has a burn or scald
Stop putting ice on the area if you notice more redness, discolouration or blistering of your child's skin.
Read more about burns and scalds
If your child has any problems with circulation or sensation, don't use ice to treat their snapping hip.
School and college
Your child doesn't have to be pain-free to go to school or college. They may need to cut back on things like PE and playtime until the symptoms of snapping hip get better.
Help and support
If you follow this advice, you should see your child's symptoms get better gradually over time. The biggest change usually comes within the first couple of weeks, and most problems should have improved within 6 weeks.
Talk to a doctor if your child's symptoms haven't improved within 6 weeks.
Find out how to reach MSK services in your area.