Check out this post from Sports Therapist, Calum Linklater-Jones on the truth about lateral hip pain.
Blog by Calum Linklater-Jones, BSc (hons), MSc, MSST
Graduate Sports Therapist | 5 Valleys Physio
If you have been experiencing pain located on the outside of the hip, or directly over bony prominence at the top of your leg, then you may have heard of this diagnosis. Bursitis refers to the inflammation or irritation of the bursa located on the side of your hip.
This is a diagnosis often given to a wide variety of people, including athletes, the elderly, and day-to-day workers. However, ‘Hip or Greater Trochanteric Bursitis’ is not the most appropriate diagnoses depicting lateral hip pain amongst experts.
Unfortunately, due to lack of up-to-date research or lazy diagnostics, bursitis is over-diagnosed and plays a significantly smaller role than previously thought. With over 20 years of research on the topic, only a small percentage of people who have been diagnosed with Greater Trochanteric Bursitis present with inflammation or irritation of the bursa. Shockingly, even in cases where these markers are found, in all cases bursitis occurs as a secondary response to other pathologies. This occurs acutely and over time.
So, what does this mean? Lateral hip pain diagnosed as bursitis or GTPS is caused by something else. For instance, in 80-90% of cases, Gluteus Medius & Minimums pathologies are responsible for pain attributed to Bursitis/GTPS. Additionally, IT band tightness also contributes to bursa irritation. However, due to the IT Band’s direct attachment to the Glutes, the muscle group is also responsible for this aggravating factor. Treating Gluteus Medius & Miniums pathologies, such as Tendinopathies, Strains, or general tightness, should therefore be the primary driver for treatment.
Here at 5 Valleys Physio, we offer you expert advice and diagnostic abilities. Utilising our team of experts, including industry leading therapies and equipment, we also offer the MSK Diagnostic Ultrasound & Injection Therapy Clinics.
The team has the unique ability to provide a full roster of treatment and assessment options. Hence, if you are experiencing ‘lateral hip pain’, we have the skill set necessary to remove your pain, restore movement & strength, and improve your performance or quality of life.
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