Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: Diagnostic & Treatment
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is a common clinical condition characterized by persistent pain on the outer aspect of the hip. It serves as an “umbrella term” that encompasses several issues, including gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis. Because the lateral hip is a major attachment site for the powerful muscles that stabilize your pelvis during walking and standing, it is highly susceptible to overloading and repetitive strain.
Lateral hip pain can be debilitating, often making it difficult to walk for long periods, climb stairs, or even sleep on the affected side at night.
UNDERSTANDING THE LATERAL HIP
The “Greater Trochanter” is the bony prominence on the outside of your femur (thigh bone). It acts as a crucial anchor point for several structures:
Gluteus Medius & Minimus Tendons: The primary stabilizers of the hip during walking.
Trochanteric Bursa: Small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions to reduce friction between the bone and the overlying soft tissues.
Iliotibial Band (ITB): A thick band of fascia that runs down the outside of the leg.
Pain usually occurs when these tissues become compressed against the bone or when the tendons are unable to cope with the mechanical load placed upon them.
Common Conditions within GTPS
Gluteal Tendinopathy: Small tears or “wear and tear” in the tendons of the buttock muscles.
Trochanteric Bursitis: Inflammation of the cushioning sac on the outer hip bone.
ITB Friction: Irritation caused by the iliotibial band snapping or rubbing over the greater trochanter.
Treatment Approaches for GTPS:
Activity Modification: Learning how to avoid “compressive” positions, such as crossing your legs or sleeping without a pillow between your knees.
Physiotherapy Exercises: Progressive loading programs to strengthen the gluteal tendons and improve pelvic stability.
Diagnostic Ultrasound Scan: Crucial for identifying the specific structure causing the pain and ruling out hip joint arthritis.
Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): A gold-standard treatment for chronic gluteal tendinopathy that stimulates a healing response in the tendon tissue.
Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injections: Precise delivery of anti-inflammatories into the bursa for rapid relief of acute, sleep-disturbing pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Using your own blood’s growth factors to encourage repair in cases of chronic tendon tears.
Education on Load Management: Understanding how to sit, stand, and move to prevent the recurrence of lateral hip irritation.
You don’t have to struggle with hip pain that keeps you awake at night. By combining expert physiotherapy with advanced diagnostic technology, we bridge the gap between “dealing with the pain” and “resolving the injury.”
Ready to stop guessing and start healing?
Contact ProPlus Physio today for a specialist assessment and diagnostic scan.