If you are looking for a hip pain specialist in Visalia, there are some natural treatments that you may know about. In fact, physical therapy is your best bet for bothersome hip pain
There are several issues that can lead to hip pain and disability. Two conditions that are frequently responsible for this type of pain—especially in older women—are gluteal tendinitis and greater trochanteric bursitis. These two diagnoses describe separate problems, but they are so closely related that the terms are often used interchangeably.
Trochanteric Bursitis Versus Gluteal Tendinitis
Within your hip joint, like nearly every other joint in the body, there is a fluid-filled sac called a bursa. This structure provides a thin cushion that reduces friction between bones and other surfaces and allows a smooth, gliding motion of the joint. The bursa is located on the outside of the hip called the greater trochanter, and it can become damaged or inflamed for a number of reasons. This inflammation is called greater trochanteric bursitis, or greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
A similar condition involves the gluteal tendons, which are the tough fibers that connect the gluteal muscles in your buttocks to your hip bone. If one or more of these tendons are injured, the resulting condition is known as gluteal tendinitis, or gluteal tendinopathy.
Two Different Conditions with a Common Cause
Greater trochanteric bursitis and gluteal tendinitis both occur for similar reasons, with the most common cause being gradual damage from repeated activity that accumulates over time. Individuals who frequently use their hips in work or recreational activities are therefore more likely to overstrain their hips over time and experience these issues. Age is also a factor, as about 25% of women over the age of 50 are affected.
Symptoms of both conditions are also quite similar, with hip pain and tenderness being the hallmark signs in either case. This pain tends to be concentrated on the outside of the hip or thigh, and may often grow worse with activities like climbing stairs and when sleeping or lying down. Because these two conditions are so closely related and frequently occur together, in many cases either term is used to describe the same problem.
Physical therapy found to be superior compared to injections
Steroid injections are one of the more commonly used treatments for gluteal tendinitis/greater trochanteric bursitis, despite the fact that some studies have called their long-term use into question. Physical therapy represents another popular treatment option, and with this in mind, a study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of steroid injections, physical therapy, and a wait-and-see approach.
The results revealed that after both eight and 52 weeks, physical therapy led to greater improvements than the other two approaches.
This study provides further support of physical therapy as an effective intervention in the short and long term for gluteal tendinitis/greater trochanteric bursitis. Therefore, patients who are currently dealing with hip pain of any sort are strongly encouraged to consult with a physical therapist to identify the cause of your symptoms and begin a structured treatment program right away.
For More Information Contact Us Today at (559) 733-2478
We have two offices that have specialists that treat both trochanteric bursitis and gluteal tendinitis. Click here for our contact information.
