A chronic and painful condition caused by the abnormal movement of a tendon involved in the hip joint. This tendon attaches the hip bones and is responsible for the movement of the hip joint, which allows the leg to flex forward. As a result of the irregular motion of the tendon when the hip joint moves, a snapping noise is heard and a sensation of snapping is experienced by the person wo has this condition. Snapping hip may be associated with underlying tendinitis or bursitis in the hip area. Related conditions may be determined after an evaluation of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging] results. When the condition is disabling, a surgical procedure to release the involved tendon may correct it.
A slipping of the soft tissue around the hip joint, producing an palpable snapping sensation or audible snapping sound. Snapping hip syndrome may be caused by internal, external, or intra-articular factors.