The hip syndrome, also called the dancer's hip, is a condition characterized by a 'rupture' sensation thereto, felt when the hip is flexed and extended. This sensation can be accompanied by a noise (cracking) and pain or discomfort, which decrease in intensity with rest. The hip syndrome is commonly classified according to the location of the rupture, outside the joint or intraarticular (inside the hip joint).

It’s a hip disorder, frequently found in sportsmen and especially in dancers.

People who are involved in sports activities or other activities that require repetitive flexion-extension movements in the hip joint are more likely to develop this condition. Dancers tend to be most vulnerable due to the intense flexion-extension movement of the hip in their routine, but other sports such as football and gymnastics can be predisposing factors.

For most people, the condition affects their quality of life, manifesting with pain in activities such as getting up from the chair or walking (activities that involve flexion and hip extension). In athletes, however, other symptoms appear, as well as a feeling of weakness and joint pain, which interferes with their sports performance.

The hip syndrome can manifest in different places of the hip, but most often it is felt in the lateral part of the hip, caused by the friction of the iliotibial band over the large trochanter bone of the femur.

Also, the tendon of the iliopsoas muscle, which is the main flexor of the thigh (flexion of the thigh means raising the knee towards the chest) can cause this condition when rubbing on a bone protrusion of the pelvis.

Intraarticular causes are the least common.

The hip joint is the largest joint in the body and consists of:

➢ The spherical head of the femoral bone, which represents practically about 2/3 of the joint

➢ The acetabular cavity, in which the femoral head is fixed

The femur, the largest bone in the body (in adults it measures 40-50 cm), presents at its superior extremity the femoral head which is connected to the femoral body through the femoral gap. At the union of the femoral gap with the femoral body there are two protrusions, called the large trochanter and the small trochanter.

These protrusions of the bone (trochanters) represent the place where several muscles are attached, facilitating the lateral movement of the lower limb.

Along the lateral part of the thigh is the iliotibial tract or band, which is a fascial structure of fibrous tissue. The iliotibial band starts from the hip and stretches to the outer area of the knee joint and works in accordance with several thigh muscles, providing stability to the hip and the outer part of the knee. In others and people who walk long distances, the iliotibial band can cause various problems, both in the hip and in the knee.

Limit or even avoid activities that cause pain and inflammation in the joint, giving the hip time to heal.

Locally applied ice in sessions of 5-10 minutes, 3-5 times/day helps reduce pain and inflammation. Always put a thin towel between the ice and the area on which it is applied.

Through specific exercise programs, physical therapy emphasizes the toning of the stabilizing muscles of the hip, on increasing flexibility and rebalancing the hip joint. These exercises will relieve the pain and pressure felt in the affected area.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain and inflammation, but are recommended for periods of time that do not exceed 7-14 days maximum. If the inflammation does not decrease, especially if inflammation in the bursa is also associated (the bursa is a small sac with fluid with the role of lubricating and cushioning the areas between the tendons and bones), a local injection of corticosteroids (stronger anti-inflammatory), can often help to alleviate inflammation.

Adapt current activities to avoid any repetitive movement at the hip level. For example, swim using only the arms, or reduce the time spent on the bike.