Iliopsoas Syndrome Research Paper

SNAPPING HIP SYNDROME: THE DANCER’S HIP 3

Snapping Hip Syndrome: The Dancer’s Hip Dance requires that the dancer rehearse many hours a day to maintain the look of ease with each movement. A lack of recovery time between strenuous rehearsals causes dancers to experience unique wear and tear on the ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Like all athletics, dance has an associated risk of strain or injury. According to Milan (1994), upper body and limb injuries account for only 5-15%, spinal injuries account for 10-17%, and lower limb injuries account for 65-80%, of all injuries in dance. Hip strains and injuries are common due to high demands placed on the hip from long-term external rotation, or turnout,

Byrd (2005) estimates that the occurrence of iliopsoas snapping happens to 5% to 10% of the population, without a history of injury or noticeable symptoms, commonly encountered during a physical examination or health screening. When this phenomenon is accompanied by weakness or pain, it is referred to as iliopsoas syndrome, described by Laible, Swanson, Garofolo, & Rose (2013) as “the result of repetitive hip flexion in abduction by dancers in an attempt to increase turnout.”

Lateral snapping occurs when the iliotibial band slips back and forth over the greater trochanter and can be visually observed. Byrd (2005) attributes this to the thickening of the posterior part of the IT band, causing a slight rotation as the greater trochanter moves around it, making the joint look as if it dislocates from the socket upon flexion and pops back in upon extension. According to Noesberger & Eichenberger (1997), the close proximity to the sciatic nerve may cause the sensation of radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the leg, piriformis

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