Do you have a sore hip? Pain in the ... ? (you know where). Have you had countless scans or injections and not found any improvement in your symptoms? Look no further! Learn more about Greater Trochanteric Hip Pain here. Scroll to the bottom of the article for more info on specific exercises you can do to start your recovery today. Stop living in pain and get MOVING!
Ok, so what is causing your Hip Pain?
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is a condition characterized by ongoing, localized pain and tenderness over the greater trochanteric or lateral region of the hip. The greater trochanter is the bony prominence on the side of the hip. This condition can often be referred to as:
Hip bursitis
Gluteal tendinopathy
Tensor Fascia Lata tendinopathy,
or simply Lateral hip pain.
Symptoms
Pain: Persistent pain on the side of the hip, which may radiate down the thigh. Pain is often exacerbated by activities such as walking, running, or lying on the affected side.
Tenderness: Tenderness over the greater trochanter when pressure is applied.
Stiffness: Some individuals may experience hip stiffness, limiting range of motion.
Why Does it Occur
Tendon Irritation: GTPS is often associated with inflammation or irritation of the tendons that attach to the greater trochanter (hip bone), mainly occurring in the gluteal tendons.
Friction: Repetitive friction or rubbing of the tendons against this bony prominence during activities such as running, climbing stairs, or prolonged sitting can contribute to GTPS.
Muscle Weakness or Imbalance: Weakness or imbalance in the hip muscles, particularly the abductor muscles, may contribute to the development of GTPS.
Trauma: Previous injury to the hip region can be a contributing factor.
Gender: Women tend to be more susceptible to GTPS due to the larger Q-angle in female hip anatomy.
How can Exercise Help with GTPS?
Strength Training: Regular exercise, particularly focused on strengthening hip abductor muscles, can help prevent GTPS. Check out this article for more specific exercise program
Proper Body Movement and Posture (mechanics): Maintaining proper posture and body mechanics during activities can reduce the risk of developing GTPS. Check out this program to help with your control around
With personalized exercise strategies and expert guidance from MOVE, you'll be back on your feet, feeling stronger and more confident than ever before. Check out these articles to learn more about hip pain:
References:
Disantis AE, Martin RL. Classification Based Treatment of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) with Integration of the Movement System. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Apr 1;17(3):508-518. doi: 10.26603/001c.32981. PMID: 35391855; PMCID: PMC8975585.
Livingston JI, Deprey SM, Hensley CP. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS AND CLINICAL DECISION MAKING IN A YOUNG ADULT FEMALE WITH LATERAL HIP PAIN: A CASE REPORT. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015 Oct; 10(5):712-22.
Pumarejo Gomez L, Childress JM. Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. [Updated 2023 Apr 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557433/
Speers CJ, Bhogal GS. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a review of diagnosis and management in general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2017 Oct;67(663):479-480. doi: 10.3399/bjgp17X693041. PMID: 28963433; PMCID: PMC5604828.