Conditions
A bursa is a fluid filled sac that cushions muscle and tendon from bone. Trochanteric bursitis is when the bursa on the outside of your hip becomes inflamed and swollen, causing localised hip pain that may radiate towards your groin. The pain is aggravated by weightbearing activity such as walking and running. It is typically worse at night, especially when lying on the affected hip. It is also painful when getting up after prolonged sitting.
What is the cause?
- There are a number of contributing factors that can lead to bursitis. These include;
- Tightness of the muscles / fibrous tissue on the outside of your hip and thigh.
- Weakness of the lateral stabilising muscles of the hip and pelvis (gluteal muscles).
- Tightness in the gluteal muscles.
- Stiffness of the hip joint due to underlying impingement or osteoarthritis.
- Excessive weight.
- Excessive pronation of the feet.
Management
Your physiotherapist will assess your hips and pelvis to identify all of your contributing factors. This will allow us to provide you with a program of stretching tight muscles and tissues, as well as strength and control exercises to improve the way your hip moves. Your physiotherapist will likely do some stretching and tissue release around the hip to restore normal mechanics. In some cases where conservative management has not fully resolved the issue, a steroid injection performed under ultrasound guidance, may be considered. Premium Physiotherapy is happy to guide through this decision-making process.