It’s easy to ignore that small popping sound or click in your hip when you walk — if it isn’t accompanied by pain. In fact, you may have only remembered that you have a hip click when you started to read this blog.
The click may have been there so long that you’ve stopped noticing it, or you chalk it up to one of those quirks your body has picked up over time. Regardless of how long it’s been there, a clicking hip isn’t normal.
Though it might not hurt yet, a clicking hip is not harmless. It is a sign of an underlying issue, like tight tendons, joint misalignment, or a labrum injury. It can lead to more severe symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, or problems moving around if it isn’t managed.
Thankfully, many causes of a clicking hip are treatable. At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare in San Diego, Temecula, and Encinitas, California, David Chao, MD, and our team are experts at helping people get to the root of the issue and find long-term solutions.
Whether you’ve ignored that click for years or just started noticing it, this blog is for you. We’ll explain what’s causing the sound and why it’s worth your attention.
There isn’t one single reason why your hip might click. It could be something as simple as a tight tendon or something more complex like a joint problem. Here are some of the more common causes:
Snapping hip syndrome occurs when your tendons or muscles become tight or inflamed. When these tendons move over the bones, they can create the clicking sound you hear.
Sometimes, the shape of the hip joint itself can be a problem. Conditions like femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occur when the bones in your hip don’t fit together perfectly, causing friction and clicking.
Cartilage cushions the hip joint and can wear down over time due to age, injury, or arthritis. If this cartilage is damaged or uneven, it can create clicking or popping sounds.
A tear in the labrum, the cartilage that lines the hip socket, can make your hip click when you walk, especially if the tear causes the joint to move irregularly.
A clicking hip is not always a sign of something serious, but it’s definitely not something to ignore. Even if it doesn’t hurt right now, that click is a sign your hip isn’t functioning as well as it should.
Untreated issues can lead to pain, discomfort, reduced mobility, and long-term damage over time. As your hip becomes less stable or inflamed, you may find walking, exercising, or even standing harder.
Conditions like labral tears or hip impingement can also lead to arthritis or permanent joint damage if not addressed early. At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare, we believe early intervention is critical. Addressing a clicking hip now can prevent more severe problems later.
Many causes of a clicking hip can be treated, especially when caught early. Treatment options can range from simple lifestyle changes to surgery:
Targeted stretches and strengthening exercises can help loosen tight muscles, improve flexibility, and correct abnormal movements. These exercises can fix many cases of clicking hips.
If inflammation is causing your clicking hip, injections like corticosteroids or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help reduce inflammation and pain in some cases.
For structural issues like labral tears or hip impingement, minimally invasive surgery may be needed to correct the problem and help you walk click-free.
Whether it’s caused by tight tendons, structural issues, or wear and tear, there’s no reason to live with a clicking hip or risk letting it get worse. At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare, we specialize in diagnosing and treating hip issues, from snapping tendons to joint problems.
Contact us today to get rid of the click in your step and save your long-term hip, bone, and joint health.
