Hip Abduction Exercise and Popping

[leosmom]

PT gave me a hip abduction exercise called the clamshell. I lay on my side, op leg on top, bent knees, and left the op leg up and down like a clam opening and closing. These were great in the beginning as it really focused on my weak hip muscle. The last couple of days though I have felt a very mild popping in the area when I try to do the exercise. I don't get that when I do the standing abduction exercise with ankle weight. Also, today I went back to the gym first time (ok'd by PT). I was on a hip abduction machine with only 10 lb weights. The first set of 10 I was fine, then into the second set I got that mild popping again. Any ideas what's going on? It doesn't hurt, just pops.

 

[Jamie]

Kathy, I'm thinking that hip popping is probably not something you want to let happen, although Jo would need to say for sure. Sounds to me like you need to take it just a little easier at this early stage of recovery.

Incidentally, my trainer stopped using those abduction and adductions leg machines with me a couple of years ago. She said she had learned they were too hard on hips. I suppose if you kept the weights and reps down, it might be all right. But if the standing exercises work, I'd use them.

The exercises we used to replace the machines were sideways walks around the track. Man, does that ever work my legs out! I never got good enough, but some of the gals Angie trains did those sideways walks around the track with rubber bands around their legs at midpoint.

 

[leosmom]

Thanks, Jamie, some good thoughts there. When you say around their legs at midpoint - do you mean around the knees? My PT gave me a sideways walk with the latex band around my ankles. I feel that one along the outside of my thighs.

 

[Jamie]

Yes, I meant close to the knees. Where you put the bands depends on the size of the band and the amount of resistence you want to get. Using them on the ankles gives the most resistence. Sounds like your PT is giving you an excellent exercise!

 

[Josephine]

It's nothing, lm. Air or fluid moving around inside the joint, is the most popular conclusion. Have you watched the "Noisy Hips" video in the Noisy Hips forum? You'll find it if you click on the Hip Forum link in the navbar above.

 

[Jamie]

Thanks, Jo....ever the voice of reason!!!

 

[leosmom]

:thnk: Just watched the video and read the other threads in that forum. The common theme seems to be this should go away when muscles regain strength. Thank you sooo much Jo and Jamie. You guys are awesome and so is this forum. I am much relieved.