Our daughter dances and has been having problems with her hip snapping and popping. Can anything be done?

December 27th — admin

Our 19-year-old daughter is a dancer on a summer tour with a very prestigious dance group. She’s been having problems with snapping and popping of her left hip. It doesn’t hurt but it’s loud enough to be heard on stage. We’re trying to find out anything we can that might help her. Are there any tricks to keep this from happening without changing the way she dances?

Many dancers and other athletes are affected by an annoying hip condition that results in a snapping sound and feeling that occurs whenever they bend or flex their hip. Coxa sultans is the medical term for this condition. But it is better known by a more descriptive term: snapping hip.The treatment depends on the cause. If it’s something loose inside the joint (e.g., piece of bone or cartilage) that’s getting caught, it might have to be removed surgically. If it’s a tendon rubbing over a bone, then stretching might be the answer. Sometimes the only effective treatment is rest and stopping the motion that aggravates the condition. That’s a tough prescription for a young dancer on a special tour. The first step is to get a proper diagnosis. If possible, have her see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in dancers or other athletes.If all other serious possibilities are ruled out, then conservative (nonoperative) care is the way to go. Antiinflammatories may be prescribed by the physician. The therapist shows the affected individual how to stretch properly. Rest is advised along with elimination (or at least moderation) of activities and motions that aggravate the problem.It may be necessary for the therapist to work with the patient to re-program how and when the hip muscles are activated. This is called neuromuscular re-education. If physical therapy is unable to alter the symptoms, then the physician may try injecting the hip. And if that doesn’t work, then surgery is the final treatment to try.But before we go any further down that path, get an evaluation and diagnosis. Then a proper plan of care can be put into effect.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Diagnosing snapping hip syndrome

September 16th — admin

Whenever I extend my leg and then bend it again, I get a painful snapping across the front of my hip. It’s loud enough you can actually hear it. The orthopedic surgeon says it’s a snapping hip syndrome. Nothing showed up on an X-ray. Would it be helpful to have a CT scan or an MRI to make sure that’s really what’s wrong?

The diagnosis of snapping hip syndrome usually only requires a careful patient history and examination. Many times, the patient and/or examiner are able to reproduce the symptoms. This helps identify the soft tissue structures that are involved.

The cost of more advanced imaging is always taken into consideration. Since the first step in treatment is the same regardless of the exact diagnosis, your surgeon may hold off on further imaging studies for a while. Conservative care with rest, stretching exercises, and avoiding repetitive motions that aggravate the condition is advised. A physical therapist may also use deep heating treatments such as ultrasound or iontophoresis (antiinflammatory medications pushed through the skin to the tendon).

Magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound for imaging (rather than for providing heat treatment) becomes helpful if and when the surgeon is considering a steroid injection into the iliopsoas bursa. The bursa is a small, oval-shaped soft tissue structure between the bone and the tendon. It helps reduce friction and provides smooth action of the tendon-muscle unit.

In the case of snapping hip syndrome, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) may be a better choice. A contrast dye is injected into the joint to help look for problems within (inside) the joint. This could be a loose fragment of cartilage or bone — or a frayed or torn piece of the labrum (rim of cartilage around the hip socket). Dynamic ultrasound is another good diagnostic option. Images of the iliopsoas tendon show signs of tendon thickening, enlarged burse, pockets of fluid collection, or signs of inflammation. Each of these tests has its own sensitivity and specificity making them useful for certain patients. The surgeon is able to identify which test is best and when to use it to avoid unnecessary test procedures but gain important and necessary information when it’s needed.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Does snapping hip require medical attention?

November 24th — admin

I have had a snapping hip for quite a while now. It doesn’t bother me so I’ve never gotten it checked. Should I?

Many people have heard a snap or a pop come from their hips from time to time. This can happen when they’re doing something that puts a lot of stress on the hips or if they’ve been injured. While snapping hips can be harmless, they can be caused by injury as well.

Snapping can occur when your hip bends and the band of tissue that runs along your hip to your shin passes over your thigh bone. That band might catch, causing the snapping sound. If this happens often enough, there can be swelling and this can cause pain. You could also get the snapping from a tear in the tissue in your hip, or by the tension of a tendon as it’s stretched across the thigh bone.

Many people will hear the snap and think it odd, but won’t go to a doctor because they aren’t feeling any pain or discomfort. If your hip is bothering you, it’s best you see your doctor so you can be checked to be sure it’s not something serious.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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What is snapping scapula syndrome?

September 21st — admin
What is snapping scapula syndrome?

 
Snapping scapula syndrome is a fairly rare condition where the shoulder blade thumps, grates, or snaps as it moves along the chest wall. It can happen when the bursa between the shoulder blade and chest wall becomes inflamed. (A bursa is a lubricated sac that cuts down on friction between muscles, tendons, and bones during movement.) People who have had a fractured rib or shoulder blade sometimes feel grating because the bones may have healed out of alignment. Weak muscles under the shoulder blade can increase the chances of having snapping scapula syndrome because there is less muscle padding between the shoulder blade and chest wall.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Does Shoulder Injury Require X-ray or MRI?

August 20th — admin

I started a weight-lifting program at home two weeks ago. When I increased to 20 pounds for shoulder movements, I felt a pop in my left shoulder. There was a twinge of pain at the time, and the next day I had extreme shoulder pain. I went to see the doctor, and she said I tore the supraspinatus tendon. There were no X-rays or other tests done. Shouldn’t I have X-rays or MRI?

X-rays have limited value in a case like this. Your doctor might have ordered an X-ray if she thought you could have fractured a bone. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a useful test to identify damaged shoulder tendons. However, it is not always necessary to perform these studies. MRIs are very expensive, and most tendon tears can be accurately identified with a careful physical examination and history. An MRI is probably not necessary unless the doctor is considering surgery. If you do not get better after a program of physical therapy, the doctor may reconsider ordering an MRI. Getting a second opinion from another doctor may confirm the diagnosis at a lesser cost.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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Does your shoulder snap, crackle and pop?

July 20th — admin
Why do I sometimes feel popping and snapping in my shoulder when I move my arm?

 
It depends on where and when you feel the popping. If it is in the back part of the shoulder blade, the popping might be coming from a problem called snapping scapula. Snapping scapula causes feelings of grating, grinding, or snapping under the back part of the shoulder blade when you move your shoulder.

Popping felt during shoulder movement can also happen when a tendon rolls over a bony bump. The acromioclavicular joint is formed where the shoulder blade meets the collarbone. This joint tends to wear out earlier than other joints and can also start to pop and click with shoulder movement.

Most cases of popping or snapping in the shoulder are not serious. They often can be helped by a well-rounded exercise program designed by a physical or occupational therapist.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com 

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