Gluteal tendinopathy

Gluteal tendinopathy or hip tendon pain is the most common cause of greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Your gluteal tendons are the tough tendon fibres that connect your gluteal muscles to your hip bone. Usually injury occurs when tiny tears to the tendon occur over long time periods.

Gluteal tendinopathy can occur due to poor hip and gluteal muscle control. This can overstress the gluteal tendons causing pain and leading to hip and pelvic instability.  Walking or running with poor hip control can lead to friction of the hip bursa resulting in trochanteric bursitis. Pain is usually felt at the side of the affected hip.

 

Symptoms include:

  1. Pain worse when you use the tendon e.g running or going up and down stairs.
  2. Stiffness and pain which is worse during the night or when you get up in the morning.
  3. Pain is worse when you lie on your affected hip.
  4. If the hip bursa is involved there may be heat, swelling, redness and tenderness to touch

 

Initial treatment includes:

  1. Rest, ice and avoidance of aggravating activities
  2. Gentle range of motion exercises for the affected hip to prevent stiffness
  3. Undertake an exercise programme such as Pilates to improve your hip and gluteal muscle control.
  4. Avoid stretching the tendon e.g don’t sit with your legs crossed. Have a pillow between your knees at night.
  5. Modify your return to  sport under the supervision of your physiotherapist.

 

Here at Southside physiotherapy clinic we can help to diagnose and treat the problem. We also run Pilates classes which can help to improve your hip and gluteal muscle control.