Trochanteric Bursitis

What is Trochanteric Bursitis?

The ending of the word “itis” is defined as inflammation. Therefore, bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, and tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that sits between muscles or tissues to cushion and reduce friction. In the hip, there is a rather large bursa on the outside between the bony area (trochanter) and the thick band of tissue stretching from your hip to your knee (iliotibial band). This is called the trochanteric bursa.

This bursa can often become inflamed due to abnormal joint movements, poor posture, and weakness of the surrounding musculature. This causes strain to the tissues and excessive friction on the bursa. People tend to feel pain with prolonged walking or standing. It is often very tender to touch on the outer hip and thigh.

How physical therapy helps

Physical therapy is the first line in conservative treatment for trochanteric bursitis. Since most bursitis is due to underlying abnormal movement and weakness, our trained physical therapists evaluate your movement to pinpoint the source of trouble. Modalities may be used to alleviate pain and discomfort, while hands-on therapy improves joint mechanics and range of motion.

Finally, gentle strengthening exercises and joint coordination exercises help to restore stability to the affected area and prevent the re-occurrence of the symptoms. To find out more about how we can help your hip bursitis call today!