Pain in the hip can easily be diagnosed as bursitis, and most people think that’s what it is. Some experts, however, believe that it isn’t 90 percent of the time.
Hip bursitis is commonly diagnosed when patients have pain on the outside of their hip, when inflammation occurs between the thighbone and nearby tendons.
Advertisement
But several other issues can cause a similar type of pain and require different treatments. Further, they are often easier to treat, and future bouts of hip pain can be prevented.
Hip pain is likely most commonly the result of one of the following conditions:
Tendinitis: Tendinitis occurs when there’s inflammation in the tendons (fibrous bands of tissues) that connect the gluteal muscles in your buttocks and hip bone. It can develop from a muscle imbalance resulting from a lack of activity, crossing legs, or even sitting on a wallet.
Overuse: Walking or running with weak hip and buttock muscles can tighten and irritate a long ban of connective tissue that runs from the knee to the hip – the iliotibial (IT) band.
Tight Muscles: If gluteal muscles and IT bands are too tight, they pull at the thighbone where they attach, which can lead to pain on the other side.
Spine Problems: Sometimes, pain in a pinched nerve, spine arthritis, or bones in the spine rubbing together can lead to pain in the side of the hip.
To treat the pain, you may need to visit a doctor and a physical therapist. They may be able to diagnose the pain and offer the best treatments.
Advertisement
Thankfully, the pain almost always goes away with targeted exercise and stretching. Massage and a course of physical therapy is a very successful combination to loosen things up to make walking more comfortable.
Building core strength can also help by aligning muscles and taking pressure off of the hips.
Avoiding habits that can tighten muscles and add to pain can also help. Crossing legs or sitting too long are the main culprits of hip muscle tightness and pain.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
