Bursitis of the hip is one of the most common causes of hip pain. It is most commonly seen in women and middle-aged or elderly individuals, however it can affect younger individuals as well. The hip is one of the three most common joints (along with the shoulder and elbow) that can be affected by bursitis. Ace Physiotherapy Toronto offers skilled, individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans by expert Physiotherapists using leading-edge techniques and equipment for the treatment of hip bursitis.
Anatomy of hip trochanteric bursitis
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that are located between the bones and soft tissues in your body. They act as gliding surfaces to decrease friction. There are two major bursae in your hip that can become irritated. The greater trochanter bursa which covers the bony point of the hip bone and the iliopsoas bursa that is located on the groin side of your hip.
What is hip bursitis?
Inflammation of either the greater trochanter bursa or the iliopsoas bursa is referred to as hip bursitis. Hip bursitis which affects the greater tochanter is also known as trochanteric bursitis. When the iliopsoas bursa becomes inflamed the pain is in the front of the hip / groin areaa, however the condition is still referred to as hip bursitis. This condition is not as prevalent as trochanteric bursitis, but the treatments are often similar.
Symptoms of hip bursitis
Trochanteric bursitis results in pain that is felt at the point of the hip which typically extends to the outside of the thigh area. The area may be tender to touch. At first, you may feel a sharp and severe pain, but after some time the pain becomes more of a dull pain and extends over the area. This pain is often made worse with excessive walking, exercise, or stair climbing. Usually, the pain intensifies at night, when lying on the affected hip, and when getting up from a chair after sitting for some time. Stiffness and tightness may also be felt in the hip.
Causes of hip bursitis
Overuse is one of the most common causes of hip bursitis that mostly results from activities such as stair climbing, bicycling, running and standing for an extended period of time. Direct impacts such as falling onto the hip, bumping the hip, or lying on one side of the body for a long period of time can cause hip bursitis. The condition can be the result of repetitious friction to the bursa due to muscular weakness and tightness. If an individual has one leg which is shorter than the other, it can also lead to irritation of the hip bursa. Some medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, gout, scoliosis, etc. may cause hip bursitis. Individuals, who had previous surgery around their hip or have prosthetic implants in their hip, may be affected by hip bursitis. Bone spurs or calcium deposits that develop within the tendons in the area can irritate the bursa and cause inflammation.
First aid for hip bursitis
In most cases, nonsurgical treatment procedures are available for pain relief. In order to avoid further pain, aggravating activities should be avoided. Medications such as NSAIDs will reduce the pain. For the first ten days, a walking cane or crutch can be used to unload pressure off the hip.
Physiotherapy Treatments for hip bursitis
Physiotherapy techniques promote recovery from this condition by addressing issues such as pain and any lack of flexibility and strength. The physiotherapist will select treatment strategies in any or all of the following areas:
- Icing: to reduce your pain and swelling
- Range of motion: self-stretching techniques may be applied to the lower body to decrease tension in the hip especially stretching of muscles that attach to the greater trochanter of the hip including the piriformis.
- Manual therapy: hands-on treatments to move your muscles and joints in order to improve their motion and strength of the hip
- Muscular strength: the physiotherapist will design a strengthening exercise program for you to resolve your muscular weaknesses or imbalances resulting from excessive strain at the hip
- Ultrasound: to reduce pain and inflammation
- Custom Orthotics: orthotics can be provided for you to correct poor foot biomechanics and any muscle imbalances which may have contributed to the condition.
- Laser Therapy: to reduce inflammation, and stimulate healing
- Shockwave Therapy: used to deliver sound waves to the painful area to stimulate healing
- Kinesio Taping: useful to unload the muscles and bursae around the hip, allowing for recovery and prevention of further aggravation