Hip Pain
Some common causes of hip pain include:
GLUTEAL TENDINOPATHY
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
Tendons are strong, rope-like structures that attach muscles to bone, this means they are essential for making us mobile. Tendons love consistent habits and routines and therefore can cause us pain when they are overused or under prepared for exercise. There are two types of tendinopathy; Tendinitis (acute tendon injury) and Tendinosis (chronic tendon injury).
Gluteal tendinopathy is the umbrella term to describe tendon pathology of the gluteal tendon.
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
In tendinopathies the internal structure changes due to the inconsistent exercise or loading (sudden increase of decrease in activity). The tendon initially becomes inflamed and painful but still functions well. If left untreated and managed incorrectly it can develop into a chronic issue with weakness, persistent pain and an increased risk of rupture. Gluteal Tendinopathy is commonly seen at the same time as Trochanteric Bursitis.
Other common causes include:
- Years of running or long distance walking
- Sudden commencement of frequent exercise
- Change of activity surface
- Change of footwear
- Gluteal muscle weakness
- Overweight or obesity
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
- Inactive and sedentary people
- Weekend runners
- Females over the age of 50 are more commonly affected than men
SYMPTOMS
- Pain over the outer hip bone
- Tenderness of the hip bone
- Pain while walking, running and climbing stairs
- Pain while lying on the affected side
- Pain with prolonged sitting
- Hip weakness
MUSCLE STRAINS AND TEARS
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
- Grade 1 for mild strains
- Grade 2 for moderate strains with swelling, bruising and weakness
- Grade 3 for full rupture (the muscle ripping into two separate pieces).
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
- The muscle has been overstretched
- The muscle has been forced to contract too strongly
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
Muscle strains can occur in anyone whether they are sedentary or active but there is a high risk associated with people that partake in sports and recreational exercise.
SYMPTOMS
- Sharp pain and tenderness over the strain area
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pain on usage of the muscle
- Weakness on usage of the muscle
TROCHANTERIC BURSITIS
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
Trochanteric Bursitis is commonly seen alongside gluteal tendinopathy, therefore they affect similar people.
Contributing factors include;
- Obesity and being overweight
- Women over the age of 50 are more commonly affected than men
- People who suffer from lower back or hip pain
SYMPTOMS
- Pain on the outer aspect of the hip that may refer down the thigh
- Clicking or snapping felt on the outside of the hip
- Hip pain while walking, running or climbing stairs
- Pain while lying on the affected hip
OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE HIP
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as degenerative joint disease, this is commonly a result of age related changes. OA can develop in people as they age, therefore it is more commonly seen in elderly people. It’s critical in OA patients that strength and movement exercises are performed for the hips and knees to slow the progression of the condition. The team at Excel Body & Health utilise exercises from the GLA:D program (developed in Denmark) which has been shown to reduce pain by 36%, reduce medication intake and reduce the need for joint replacement surgery.
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
SYMPTOMS
- Slowly progressing hip pain
- Referral pain into the thigh or buttocks
- Worse at the end of an active day
- Stiffness in the morning or after long periods of inactivity
- Crepitus or cracking sounds with hip movement
FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT (FAI)
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
- CAM lesion (bony growth on the top of the thigh bone)
- Pincer lesion (bone growth on the hip socket)
- Mixed presentation where both lesions are present in the hip
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
- Genetics or birth based hip disorders
- Repetitive hip rotating and flexing in the early childhood development years
- Surgical overcorrection of hip dysplasia
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
- Adults who played high speed sports as kids
- Adults who were born with hip dysplasia
- Adults who have moderate to severe hip osteoarthritis
SYMPTOMS
- Pain in the hip, groin and or buttock
- Stiffness in the hip and groin
- Pain aggravated by acceleration sports, squatting, climbing stairs and prolonged sitting.
- Reduced hip flexibility
- Clicking or locking of the hip
LABRAL TEAR
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
A labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds a joint to help with stability. Labrums are found in the hip and shoulder joints and can be torn with trauma. A tear can appear in any aspect of the labrum (front, back and top).
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
- Over twisting of the hip
- Falls
- Mis-stepping on uneven surfaces
- Direct trauma from a car or bike
- Femoroacetabular impingement and hip dysplasia
SYMPTOMS
- Pain at the front of the hip or groin
- Pain aggravated by flexing and rotating the hip
- Clicking, popping or locking of the hip
- Giving way of the hip
PIRIFORMIS IMPINGEMENT/SYNDROME
WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?
- Trauma to the buttock or hip resulting in inflammation or muscle spasms resulting in nerve compression
- Gluteal muscle spasms caused by lower back pain
- Anatomical anomalies of the sciatic nerve passing through rather than under the Piriformis muscle
SYMPTOMS
- Pain or pressure in the buttock area
- Referral pain around the back of the hip or thigh
- Weakness of gluteal muscles
- Reduction in hip rotation
- Radiating pain down the back of the leg and calf
TREATMENT FOR HIP PAIN
The team at Excel Body & Health are highly skilled practitioners that will assist in determining the cause, treatment and management of your hip pain. Your treatment plan will be tailored to you and will focus on reducing pain, restoring normal function and preventing re-injury of your hip.
Treatment may include soft tissue massage, muscle energy techniques, stretching, joint mobilisation, articulation, manipulation, dry needling, taping and/or exercise prescription.
A personalised treatment plan will aid in managing the injury and associated pain in the short and long term.
