Understanding Hip Bursitis

Hip bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa at the hip joint. The purpose of the bursa is to protect the joints from compressing and causing friction. Too much stress or trauma, such as a direct blow to the area, can cause bursae to become inflamed. The bursa in the hip is called the trochanteric bursa, mainly because it is located over the greater trochanter of the thigh bone, and acts as a cushion between the greater trochanter and the tissue.

Do I Have Hip Bursitis?

Every pain is not bursitis, and only your physician can determine whether you have the condition. A person suffering from hip bursitis will normally have pain over the area of the bursa, but in severe cases this pain in joints may radiates down the leg. The pain usually occurs with movement of the hip, and common activities like walking, climbing stairs, or running can cause chronic joint pain. Your physician can diagnose your condition by performing an ultrasound.

Hip Treatment for Bursitis

Rest is crucial in the treatment of hip bursitis. Rest prevents movement and allows the chronic joint pain to settle down. Other treatment includes ice therapy, electrotherapy, and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce tissue irritation and pain. In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be necessary. There are also new alternative supplements on the market which have shown excellent results for treatment of bursitis-some in as little as 30-days.

Once your chronic joint pain has settled down, it is recommended that you begin some strengthening exercises to improve the muscle function and reduce the risk of re-injury. When muscles weaken, other muscles may overcompensate for the weaker ones, leading to an imbalance which will continue to worsen the problem-the lengthened muscle becomes weaker and the shorter muscles become stronger. This imbalance can change the way the joints work, leading to problems like a hip bursitis. Simple exercises may help reduce the damage.

Closed chain exercises, in which the foot is kept on the ground while movement and resistance take place in the joints and muscles above, are known to be helpful in treating hip bursitis. Partial squats (using the same action as lowering yourself onto a chair) and leg presses (similar to going up a stair) are exercises that will add crucial strength and stability around the muscles and joints of the hip.

Progressive resistive exercises (PREs) are also being used in rehabilitation. Some of these exercises may include pulley systems, free weights, rubber tubing, manual resistance, and computerized exercise devices. PREs are a way to apply graded resistance to muscle groups to gradually help them gain endurance and strength.

Stabilization exercises focus on muscles that are closer into the "core" of the body and act as stabilizers. These stabilizers work to put your joints in the right position and to steady them while you squat, walk, or jump. If these muscles aren't working properly, your hip loses some of its control.

If you are suffering from bursitis pain, you need to know that you can find relief. Bursitis does not have to be a lifelong condition.