Hip Popping

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Jordan and Austin,

I wanted to ask you about a weird popping/cracking sensation that developed around my right hip. There are certain movements that cause a feeling that my right femoral head is popping out of my hip. There isn’t any pain associated with this sensation just a sounds/feeling that this is happening. It happens at odds times, when I pivot on my right leg or come up after bending down to pick something up, sometimes it happens when I am in bed. When I lift, it consistently happens during straight leg deadlifts as I lower the weight down and sometimes during actual deadlifts, never during squats.

I’m not sure exactly what is causing it and not sure what to do since there isn’t really any pain. Looking it up online, it says it could be snapping hip syndrome. Just some background info, I am currently doing the Bridge and I run twice a week (I am in the military so I have to stay in running shape). I have had patellar tendonitis in my right knee (military) that flares up from time to time and had some type of tendonitis in my left hip that also flares up from time to time. When those flare up I usually take some ibuprofen and lay off the volume for a week and run less.

Any way, is there anything you would recommend to fix this? I’m afraid it could get worse later if I don’t treat it now.

Thanks!

2

Have you ever had a prior injury to the hip?

I anticipate it’ll be difficult for us to be of much help to you here, without a physical exam.

3

I have never injured that side of my hip (right side), but I did have a mild case of tendonitis in the hip last year on the other side around where the IT band meets the hip. That side can still flare up from time to time if I squat narrowly or very upright, but if I’m careful and don’t over do it it is fine.

I’ll get it checked out and let you know what the doctor says, the popping is becoming more common even if there is no pain.