Have you noticed pain lying on your side? Are you struggling to get in and out of cars because of hip pain? You may be dealing with hip bursitis or gluteal tendinopathy. At No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego, our mobile physical therapists will visit you at your home and help you identify the source of your pain and how to treat it successfully.
The bump you feel on the outside of your leg is not the hip joint; it is a part of the thigh bone (femur) called the greater trochanter. This protrusion is where tendons from the buttock muscles attach and where a bursa protects the bone from these tendons.
The outer hip region is a common source of pain and dysfunction. Even the most basic activities are impaired when the tendons or bursa are irritated or inflamed. Fortunately, at No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego, our team of mobile physical therapists will come to your home and help you clarify the source of your issues and help guide you to relief!
Request an appointment today with one of our highly trained mobile physical therapists.
What are the common causes of outer hip pain?
The location of your pain is an essential clue for identifying the source of your problem. For example, hip pain on the upper aspect of your hip (pelvis) is usually caused by problems with muscles, tendons, and/or bursa and not the hip joint itself.
The type of symptom(s) you experience helps to point towards the condition causing your pain and dysfunction. Pain that is felt on the outer hip (i.e., greater trochanter pain) is often referred to as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). This syndrome encompasses two primary conditions:
Bursitis: Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs positioned between bones, tendons, or other moving parts near your joints. Their job is to reduce friction between these moving parts.
Trochanteric bursitis affects the outer part of the upper leg and is due to inflammation from irritation or injury. The main symptoms include pain to touch/pressure on the outside of the hip and activities such as lying on it, walking, climbing stairs, or running.
The main risk factors include:
- Gender: Women are more commonly affected than men
- Overweight/Obesity
- Trauma (i.e., falls, contact injury in sports, and/or accidents)
- Overuse of the muscles or abrupt changes in activity levels
Gluteal tendinopathy: The tendons from the gluteal muscles (i.e., gluteus medius and gluteus minimus) attach to the greater trochanter and, when injured, lead to pain on the outer hip.
The main symptoms include palpation over the greater trochanter and pain that refers down into the lateral thigh region. Like bursitis, gluteal tendinopathy causes pain lying on the side and weight-bearing tasks like walking, climbing stairs and running.
An essential difference between bursitis and tendinopathy is activity; tendons often feel better with use, whereas bursitis worsens. Recent research has demonstrated that tendinopathy is non-inflammatory and responds accordingly.
Occasionally pain felt in the outer aspect of the leg will be related to IT band syndrome or referred lower back pain. These conditions do not have the typical presentation as bursitis and tendinopathy and may present with symptoms unrelated to the function of the bursa and/or tendons.
Fortunately, our mobile physical therapists are experts at identifying the underlying causes of your pain and how to resolve them effectively!
What to expect at your mobile physical therapy session
Physical therapy should start immediately following the first sign of pain or injury to ensure the fastest recovery possible. If you are looking for one-on-one care and want to avoid traffic and other difficulties coming to a physical therapy office, our mobile physical therapists will come to you.
At No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego, our mobile therapists will start with an injury evaluation and a biomechanical assessment to determine how your pain affects your function. In addition, we will assess your home environment and utilize the things we find there to help our therapy interventions.
Our mobile therapists will use all the information they gather to develop a comprehensive program that includes targeted manual techniques, mobility work, strengthening, and appropriate pain relief techniques for optimal results.
Initially, our focus will be on pain management and restoring mobility to the injured area. Next, we will progress your strength and dynamic stability exercises designed to restore function and prevent injuries. We will address any obstacles in your home that may hinder your progress and provide clear guidance for resolving your issues effectively!
Request an appointment today!
Our mobile physical therapists are movement experts at No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego. We will identify all the factors contributing to your pain/injury and help you resolve them once and for all! Contact Us
Sources:
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23259671211016850
- https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-greater-trochanteric-bursitis
- https://www.physio-pedia.com/Gluteal_Tendinopathy#:~:text=Gluteal%20Tendinopathy%20(GT)%20is%20defined,prefer%20into%20the%20lateral%20thigh.
- https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/23/1382
- https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2017.0301