A Pain in the Butt

Lateral hip pain is an incredibly common complaint we see in the clinic regularly. It can be caused by a range of structures which fall under the umbrella of greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The cause can be the tendons, ligaments, muscles, or bursa which sit over the outside of the hip. The pain generally occurs due to compression of the structures on the outside of the hip. This can occur due to muscle imbalance, weakness and/or a change in activity, and subsequent overload of structures on the outside of your hip.

The pain is often felt during activities such as sitting in a low chair, going up/down stairs, lying on your painful side, sitting cross legged, and/or walking for prolonged periods. Most people assume that stretching the outside of the hip will help with the pain. However, the truth is the opposite. Stretching of these structures can increase the compression on the outside of the hip causing an increased in pain and delay in the healing process.

Physiotherapy and exercise are the mainstay of treatment. It can help reduce pain, improve strength, address biomechanics, and improve function to help get you back doing what you love and moving freely. Conditions like this need careful exercise prescription and load management to improve without causing flare ups.

If you’re experiencing a similar pain and/or finding it hard to find the right exercises, give us a call or book online so we can help you get on top of your pain.