Hip Bursitis: Overview

Hip Bursitis: Overview

This video will provide an overview of hip bursitis. Bursae are small, gel-like sacs that sit between tendons, ligaments, and bones to provide cushioning.

There are several bursae that surround the hip joint, with 1 of the largest being the trochanteric bursa, which lays on top of the greater trochanter, a bony bump on the top of the femur, or thigh bone. This bursa is frequently irritated from rubbing of the overlaying IT band. With repeated friction, this can cause bursa inflammation, or bursitis.

Bursitis at this specific part of the hip is called trochanteric bursitis, but is also simply referred to as hip bursitis. Hip bursitis is classified under the umbrella term of greater trochanteric pain syndrome, or G T P S, a condition that causes pain at the sides of the hips.

Often, hip bursitis occurs with irritation or tearing of the gluteus medius tendon, another cause of GTPS. Irritation of the trochanteric bursa from the IT band most often develops from muscle imbalances around the hip.

The gluteus medius muscle is a key stabilizer of the pelvis that also helps bring the leg out to the side. When this muscle is not strong enough, the nearby tensor fascia latae, or T F L muscle, will overcompensate to provide more stability to the hip. Because the TFL is connected to the IT band, overworking the muscle can apply increased tension on the IT band, which can lead to irritation of the underlying bursa.

Hip bursitis affects both males and females, but is more common to occur in women between the ages of 40 and 60 without a prior injury. Symptoms of hip bursitis include pain at the outer side of the hip and tenderness over the greater trochanter.

Speaker1: Sometimes, a burning sensation is present. Patients will often report that pain gets worse with walking, running, prolonged sitting, and sleeping on the affected side.

To diagnose hip bursitis, a health care provider will examine the hip and see if the outer side of the hip is tender to the touch. They will also check a patient's hip range of motion and strength, will examine how the patient is walking to see if there is a limp, and may ask the patient to stand on 1 leg.

To help confirm a diagnosis of hip bursitis, a health care provider may order an MRI or ultrasound to see if there is bursa swelling or inflammation. Sometimes, x-rays may be used to see if there are any other hip conditions, such as osteoarthritis or malalignment of the bones, but they cannot be used to determine if bursitis is present.

A health care provider will use all of their findings to determine the best course of treatment for the patient. In summary, bursae are small, gel-like sacs that sit between tendons, ligaments, and bones to provide cushioning.

Trochanteric bursitis, often called hip bursitis, results from inflammation of the trochanteric bursa that sits between the top of the thigh bone and IT band. Hip bursitis results from repeated friction of the IT band, which connects to the TFL muscle. This is most often due to muscle imbalances around the hip.

Symptoms of hip bursitis include pain, tenderness, and sometimes burning at the outer side of the hip that gets worse with walking, running, prolonged sitting, and sleeping on the affected side.