Why Am I Experiencing Hip pain?
Hip pain can be a significant barrier to mobility, affecting your ability to walk, sit, stand, and engage in daily activities. Hip pain felt on the outside of the hip, or lateral hip pain, is particularly common and can have several different causes. Today, we are focusing on the main two causes, and how to differentiate them.
The first is a gluteus Medius tendinopathy. Tendinopathy refers to irritation or degeneration of a tendon. In this case, it involves the gluteus medius muscle, which plays a crucial role in stabilising the hip. Tendinopathy often develops when the tendon is overloaded, which can happen if you suddenly increase your physical activity, such as walking or running, without proper conditioning. This condition is more likely if the muscle is weak, causing the tendon to become aggravated under stress.
The second is called a Bursitis. The bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones and soft tissues, such as tendons and muscles. Bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed, often due to repetitive motion or excessive pressure. This can happen when the muscles around the hip are tight, causing the bursa to be compressed. Bursitis tends to be painful when the bursa is compressed or irritated, leading to a cycle of inflammation and discomfort.
It is important to be able to differentiate between the two, as each cause will require different treatment. Identifying whether your hip pain is caused by tendinopathy or bursitis is key to effective treatment. Here’s a simple way to assess the cause:
Stand on One Leg:
Try standing on one leg with a slight knee bend. If you feel a sharp, localized pain on the outer side of your hip, it’s likely bursitis. This is because standing in this position compresses the bursa, increasing pain.
Assess Tendon Pain:
If you feel discomfort while performing activities like walking downhill or downstairs, or during deep knee bends, this could be a sign of tendinopathy. Unlike bursitis, tendons tend to feel better when loaded without movement. Standing on one leg without pain might suggest the issue lies with the tendons rather than the bursa.
Once you’ve identified the cause of your hip pain, you can take steps to address it. If your suffering from hip pain, speak to one of our team today to help get you on your journey to recovery.
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In this blog we only covered 2 causes of lateral hip pain, but there are more. Check out this blog to delve deeper into understanding bursitis and tendinopathies – but also discover 2 more causes that could be causing your hip troubles.
Why am I experiencing Hip Pain?