The most common form of hip bursitis is trochanteric bursitis.

Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa (a small, cushioning sac located where tendons pass over areas of bone around the joints), which lies over the prominent bone on the side of your hip (femur).

The superficial trochanteric bursa is located over the greater trochanter. This is the most commonly inflamed bursa. 

A deep trochanteric bursa lies deeper and can become inflamed in more severe cases.

What are Trochanteric Bursitis Symptoms?

Bursitis may develop gradually or traumatically.

• Pain occurring over the side of the hip
• Referred pain that travels down the outside thigh and may continue down to the knee
• Pain when sleeping on your side; especially the affected hip
• Pain upon getting up from a deep chair or after prolonged sitting (eg. in a car)
• Pain when climbing stairs
• Increased pain when walking, cycling or standing for long periods of time

What Causes Trochanteric Bursitis?

The trochanteric bursa may be inflamed by a group of muscles or tendons rubbing over the bursa and causing friction against the thigh bone.

This injury can occur with running, walking, or cycling, especially when the bicycle seat is too high. It may also occur in some people who have:

• scoliosis
• an unequal leg length
• weak hip muscles
• osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) of the hips or lower back
• rheumatoid arthritis

In many cases, the cause may be unknown by the sufferer due to subtle biomechanical faults. The repeated trauma to the bursa as you walk or exercise irritates the bursa and results in pain.

Trochanteric bursitis may also occur as a result of direct trauma to the side of the hip.

How is Trochanteric Bursitis Diagnosed?

Your physiotherapist will provide you with a thorough quiz of your medical history and a physical examination of your hip and back to determine if you have trochanteric bursitis. While you are lying on your unaffected side, your physiotherapist will carefully examine the greater trochanteric bursa area. If you feel tenderness over the bursa when pressure is applied, a diagnosis is confirmed.

The diagnosis is the easy part. Your physiotherapist will also undertake a biomechanical analysis to determine what the cause of your bursitis actually is. Factors may include muscle weakness, tightness, pain inhibition, leg length discrepancy, training techniques and more.

How is Trochanteric Bursitis Treated?

Read Full Article about Hip Bursitis

Sunday, December 05, 2010

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