A Comprehensive Guide

Living with gluteal tendinopathy (also known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome) can be challenging, but effective treatment options are available. This condition affects the tendons that connect your gluteal muscles to your hip and can cause persistent pain on the outside of your hip.

In this condition, tendons are generally not inflamed, which is why traditional methods like rest and anti-inflammatory medications often don't resolve the issue. Most experts recognize the problem as being degenerative, which may sound intimidating, but it is something that can usually be treated successfully for most people.

To put it simply, the body experiences constant strain from physical activity, leading to wear, and then repairs itself during periods of rest. When the wear occurs faster than the body’s ability to repair, healthy tendons can become weakened and eventually painful.

Several factors influence this wear-and-repair process, such as the intensity of exercise, fitness level, body composition, hormonal shifts, stress, posture, limb alignment, and past injuries. Because of this, simply easing back into activity doesn’t always solve the problem, and a more tailored rehabilitation plan is often necessary. This rehab approach focuses on identifying the specific factors causing the issue and creating an exercise routine to strengthen the gluteal muscles and tendons, improving their ability to tolerate stress.

Tendons have a limited blood supply, meaning that healing and adapting to exercise is a slow process, which is why rehabilitation can take months. However, with consistency and patience, this method typically leads to long-term improvement and successful outcomes.

Key Treatment Approaches:

1. Load Management

• Reducing activities that aggravate symptoms
• Gradually reintroducing activities as symptoms improve
• Avoiding prolonged sitting and standing in positions that put load to your tendon e.g crossed legs, hanging on one hip in standing

2. Exercise Therapy

• Progressive strength training
• Targeted gluteal exercises
• Hip and core stability work

3. Lifestyle Modifications

• Using appropriate sitting positions
• Avoiding sleeping on the affected side
• Maintaining good posture

4. Professional Treatment

• Physiotherapy guidance
• Manual therapy when appropriate
• Education about pain management
• Corticosteroid or PRP injections when required

Prevention Tips:

• Regular strength training
• Maintaining healthy body weight
• Proper exercise technique
• Gradual increase in activity levels

If you need more information or need help with your hip pain, book a Physio session at Auckland Physiotherapy, Newmarket. If you are unsure who you would like to see, book a complimentary call and talk to one of our expert Physio's today.