Snapping hip syndrome
Clarity about your symptoms
A focused hip assessment
Your consultant will take the time to understand when your hip snaps or clicks and how it’s affecting your movement.
The right next step
Options explained clearly
You’ll receive straightforward advice on the treatment that may help, including reassurance, physiotherapy and injection treatment. Surgery is seldom needed.
Care that fits your goals
Support through recovery
Together, we’ll create a personalised care plan focused on the movement or activities you want to return to, with guidance throughout your recovery.
What causes snapping hip syndrome?
Snapping hip syndrome usually happens when a tight tendon or band of tissue moves over the hip bone as you bend or straighten your leg. This can create the snapping or clicking sensation you feel during movement. You may notice it more during activities that involve repeated hip movements, such as running, dancing or climbing stairs. Over time, this repeated movement can irritate the tissues around your hip and lead to pain. Less commonly, the snapping or catching sensation is caused by a problem inside the hip joint itself.
What are the symptoms of snapping hip syndrome?
The main symptom is repeated snapping or clicking when you move your hip. You may hear it, feel it, or both. The sensation is most often noticed at the front or outside of the hip.
Where the snapping happens can give your specialist clues about the cause of your symptoms.
For example:
- At the front of the hip – often caused by a tight hip flexor tendon (the iliopsoas tendon) moving over the hip
- On the outside of the hip – often caused by a tight band of tissue called the iliotibial (IT) band moving over the outside of the hip
Less commonly, snapping or catching may be caused by a tear inside the hip joint.
Other symptoms of snapping hip syndrome may include:
- Pain or tenderness around the hip
- Stiffness or difficulty moving comfortably
- A catching or locking sensation
- Discomfort during exercise or everyday activities
Some people don’t experience any pain. However, if the snapping is becoming more noticeable or affecting your movement, a specialist assessment can help find the cause and identify treatment options that may be right for you.
How is snapping hip syndrome diagnosed?
During your appointment, your specialist will ask about the movements that bring on the snapping and how it affects you. They’ll examine your hip and may ask you to move your leg in different directions to identify where the snapping or clicking is coming from.
For many people, this assessment provides enough information to make a diagnosis.
If further investigation is needed, your specialist may recommend imaging tests, such as:
- Ultrasound – shows how the tendons and soft tissues move as your hip moves
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan – provides detailed images of the muscles, tendons and structures inside and around the hip joint
- X-ray – helps rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms
These tests may help build a clearer picture of what’s causing your symptoms.
How is snapping hip syndrome treated?
If your hip snaps or clicks without causing pain, you may not need any treatment.
If you experience discomfort or excessively loud or repetitive snapping, care usually starts with non-surgical options. This may include physiotherapy and temporary changes to activities that trigger the snapping. In some cases, your specialist may also recommend an injection to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Surgery is rarely necessary. This might be when symptoms continue despite other treatments, or if there’s a problem inside the hip joint that is unlikely to improve without an operation.
Your specialist will talk you through the treatment options, explain the benefits and considerations of each approach and work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.
Treatment routes for snapping hip syndrome
Your consultant will recommend an approach based on what’s causing the snapping and how much it’s affecting your movement. Wherever possible, treatment begins with the least invasive approach to help reduce pain, restore movement and get you back to the activities you enjoy.
Most people with snapping hip syndrome improve without surgery. Your consultant may recommend physiotherapy to ease tightness and strengthen the muscles supporting your hip. You may also be advised to adjust activities that trigger your symptoms while the irritated tissues recover.
If your hip is painful or inflamed, pain relief medication or a steroid injection may help reduce inflammation and make movement more comfortable, allowing you to continue with your rehabilitation.
Recovery goals after snapping hip syndrome surgery
Phase 1 goals:
Manage pain and swelling Protect the healing hip Use crutches for as long as advised Begin gentle exercises with guidance from your physiotherapist
Phase 2 goals:
Gradually increase your walking Improve movement in your hip Rebuild strength around your hip Return to light everyday activities when your care team advises it’s safe
Phase 3 goals:
Continue building strength around your hip Improve stamina and control Gradually progress to more demanding exercise Work towards returning to sport or your usual activities Your physiotherapist will tailor your rehabilitation to the procedure you’ve had, your progress and your personal goals. Recovery after keyhole hip surgery varies from person to person, so keeping these milestones flexible is important.
Working with hip professionals and teams
Our hip specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their hips. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Hip treatment
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How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
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