Trochanteric Bursitis

Trochaneric bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa which lies over the bone(femur) at the outer side of the hip.

Commonly the superficial trochanteric bursa is the inflamed bursa. The superficial bursa is located over the greater trochanter of the femur. In severe cases there is a deeper bursa that can become inflamed.

What's a bursa?
A bursa is a small cushioning sac that is situated where tendons pass over the areas of bone around joints.

Symptoms

• pain and or swelling on the affected hip.
• referral pain that travels down the outside of the thigh down to the knee.
• pain sleeping on affected hip.
• pain getting up from a deep chair after prolonged sitting.
• pain climbing stairs.
• pain when sitting with legs crossed.
• increase pain while walking, cycling or standing for long periods of time.

Causes of Trochanteric Bursitis?

• muscles and tendons rubbing over bursa, causing friction against thigh bone.
• can occur due to trauma such as a fall or a sports related impact contusion.
• can be a gradual onset due to repetitive actions such as running, walking or cycling.
• also can be caused by repetitive contracture of the gluteus medius, itb or both during running or walking.

Trochanteric bursitis can be a secondary injury associated with chronic conditions such as:

• scoliosis,
  
• unequal leg length, 
• weak hip muscles, 
• osteoarthritis, 
• calcium deposition in the gluteal tendons that run over the bursa,
• rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment

• Ice,
• medications such as anti inflamatories,
• corticosteroid injection,
• soft tissue therapy such as myotherapy.

How to prevent Trochanteric Bursitis?

• address any muscle weakness or fatigue.
• ensure that you strengthen the muscles to avoid reoccurance.