Coxa Saltans: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Coxa saltans is a condition in the field of orthopedics. It usually occurs after overuse in the thigh area. The condition occurs mainly in middle-aged people.

What is coxa saltans?

Coxa saltans is also known as snapping hip. This condition is considered to be a rather rare occurrence. It is mostly diagnosed in people in middle age. Researchers and scientists classify people aged 35-65 years to this stage of life. Coxa saltans is a disease that is classified in the orthopedic field. It affects the bones of the thighs. The disease can be bilateral or unilateral. There is pain in the region of the thigh, which can lead to symptoms of leg failure. Bone jumping is observed in patients, especially when walking. In addition, the bones cause discomfort during stretching processes in the hip region. Bone jumping is experienced by patients as particularly painful. The causes of coxa saltans are injuries in the hip area. In addition, the discomfort can occur with overuse of the extremities.

Causes

Researchers have not been able to fully elucidate causes of coxa saltans. Many patients have been found to complain of hip pain after injuries such as accidents or falls. In other patients, it could be determined that the cause was due to overuse of the entire hip region. This can occur when carrying heavy loads or hyperactivity combined with a body malposition. If body movements take place in such a way that they result in an increased load on one half of the body, this can cause the pain. Likewise, incorrect footwear can contribute to the hip having to bear more weight than under normal conditions. If this takes place permanently, the pain will occur. However, the cause of coxa saltans cannot be adequately determined in many patients. This can have various reasons. The patient’s self-assessment of his or her physical capabilities may be inadequate or incorrect. Possible injuries may not have been recognized. This includes that they could not be perceived at all or were overshadowed by other diseases. Symptoms might have been attributed to other diseases and later not adequately differentiated.

Symptoms, complaints, and signs

Complaints include pain of the bones in the hip area. In particular, walking causes the bones to jump. This affects the tractus iliotibialis as well as the greater trochanter. The tractus iliotibialis is a fibrous tract located along the thighs. The greater trochanter is located between the thigh body and neck. Both jump over each other during movements of the hip or legs in the sufferer. This jumping of the bones is felt as painful and unpleasant. The jump can also be triggered by a stretch or rotation of the hip as well as a thigh. In addition, flexing movements can trigger pain in the patient. Affected patients no longer feel able to perform everyday movements without pain. There is a jerky jumping of the bones. In the process, the trochanter jumps over the tract in a clearly audible manner.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by visual contact. The jump of the bones can be heard and also felt. Therefore, it is possible for a medical professional to diagnose coxa saltans in this way after ruling out other conditions. If too much stress is placed on the hip, the symptoms will worsen and the pain will increase. However, if relief is given at the first signs, spontaneous healing may also occur.

When should you go to the doctor?

A visit to the doctor is necessary as soon as hip complaints of various kinds occur. If movements of the bones trigger noises, a medical examination should be initiated. Shifts in the hip bones must be clarified so that no permanent damage occurs. Even if the bone changes do not cause pain, a doctor should be consulted. If discomfort occurs during locomotion or normal movements, this is considered unusual and should be attended to medically.If pain sets in, movements can no longer be performed without interruptions, or there is a permanent change in the position of the bones, a doctor should be consulted. In order to avoid permanent damage to the skeletal system, medical examinations become necessary. If the usual performance limit drops and there is an impairment in everyday life, it is advisable to discuss the complaints with a doctor. Restrictions in lifestyle and leisure activities lead to a reduced quality of life, which should be addressed. If complaints spread, or if there is excess weight or emotional stress due to lack of exercise, a doctor is needed. If the complaints are so severe that they lead to a restriction of professional activity, a doctor must be consulted in order not to take unnecessary risks. A visit to the doctor is also necessary if the complaints occur only sporadically or in connection with certain activities.

Treatment and therapy

For the treatment of coxa saltans, physicians recommend physiotherapy. In these, the patient learns how to perform optimal body movements. They are designed to relieve pressure on the hip area as much as possible and to prevent the body from becoming crooked. This means that procedures such as getting into and sitting down in a vehicle are trained as well as a general forward movement by running or walking. Since pain can occur when climbing stairs as well as when sitting down and standing up, these everyday processes are trained. The aim of physiotherapy is to strengthen the muscles and at the same time to analyze corrections in the movement process. With small hints and tips, an improvement can often be achieved for the patient in everyday life. In some cases, medication may be administered. These are usually pain-relieving anesthetics. If the symptoms persist or worsen, it is necessary to consider whether surgery should be performed. This involves stabilizing the muscle fibers by doubling them or fixing the greater trochanter. Both are intended to prevent the tractus iliotibialis from jumping over the greater trochanter.

Outlook and prognosis

The prognostic outlook of coxa saltans depends on the severity of the condition. For mild impairments, a conservative treatment method is used. The administration of medications or participation in physical therapy is intended to relieve pain. With the right movements and relief of the body, there can be a significant improvement in the state of health. The patient’s cooperation is important. Overweight should be avoided, as well as playing intense sports or overstraining the skeletal system. In physiotherapy, the patient learns in various training sessions how to move optimally in everyday life, what footwear to wear and how to meet challenges. A cure does not occur in most cases. Nevertheless, relief of the symptoms can be achieved and the progress of the disease can be halted. In the case of more pronounced coxa saltans, surgical intervention is necessary. This is associated with the usual risks and side effects. There is an increased risk of infection and injury to tendons or nerves. Subsequently, patients report a reduction in their existing strength. This is built up through targeted training. Nevertheless, there may be lifelong reductions in the usual performance capabilities. Nevertheless, an overall improvement in health is achieved through surgery.

Prevention

As a preventive measure, increased attention could be paid to the first warning signs. This includes observing one’s own body movements. With healthy self-reflection and a good assessment of one’s own physical possibilities, the probability of the occurrence of impending pain can be well estimated in the event of incorrect movement sequences. Timely sparing of this region of the body can help to prevent the pain from recurring, minimize it or make it disappear completely. As a result of injuries, care should also be taken to protect the bones as a preventive measure before further discomfort.

Aftercare

In most cases, only a few measures of direct aftercare are available to the person affected by coxa saltans. In the first place, the disease must be diagnosed by a physician and continue to be treated so that further complications and discomfort can be avoided.It is also not possible for the disease to heal on its own, so that the person affected by coxa saltans is usually always dependent on treatment. The patient should consult a doctor at the first signs and symptoms of the disease. The treatment is usually carried out by physiotherapy, which can alleviate most of the symptoms. Many exercises from these therapies can also be performed at home to accelerate the healing process. Likewise, many of those affected are dependent on intensive care and support from family or friends, so that this can also have a positive effect on the further course of the disease. In some cases, patients with coxa saltans are also dependent on taking medication. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the medication is taken regularly and also in the correct dosage. As a rule, the disease does not reduce the life expectancy of the affected person.

What you can do yourself

In everyday life, it is particularly helpful in the case of coxa saltans if the sensitivity to one’s own body perception is trained comprehensively. The main focus should be on the first signs of an overuse reaction. The sooner the affected person notices the conditions under which he or she reaches his or her physical limits, the sooner he or she can react and thus minimize the complaints. Some sufferers succeed in completely avoiding the occurrence of the snapping hip if they exercise sufficient self-discipline in this way. In addition, it is advisable to engage in regular sporting activities. This strengthens the muscles and improves the general resilience. In the case of coxa saltans, it is beneficial if the range of normal weight is not exceeded. Overweight or obesity is more likely to cause unwanted hip discomfort. Therefore, it is advisable to eat a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and containing a number of calories adapted to one’s own body weight. Oblique postures of the body when sitting, standing or walking should be completely avoided. If they occur unintentionally, the posture should be corrected and optimized immediately. Physiotherapeutic exercises prevent poor posture and can be performed daily on one’s own responsibility without great effort. Regular breaks and rest periods are gentle for the joints of the hip. An adequate supply of heat and baths also help to alleviate discomfort.