Hip pain
The greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a pain that occurs in the outer part of the hip and is one of the most common conditions that masseurs can encounter. The greater trochanter is located at the top of the thigh bone (femur) and is the most prominent part of the hip. In this part of the bone, a large part of the hip and gluteal muscles are inserted.
This pain is produced by a bursitis (inflammation) of the bursa that helps us to cushion the friction with these muscles that can be tense and cause alterations in the area, without being a serious anomaly, we must find why it occurs and solve the problem .
Hip pain is most common in adults over 40 to 60. Being out of shape or being overweight can increase your risk of hip bursitis. Women are more affected than men by their anatomy in the area, more prominent hips.
It can be caused by:
Overuse or strain on the hip from exercising or standing for long periods.
Hip injury, such as from a fall.
Being overweight.
Having one leg longer than the other.
Bone spurs on the hip.
Arthritis of the hip, knee or foot.
Painful foot problems, such as bunion, calf, plantar fasciitis, or achilles tendon pain.
Spinal problems, such as scoliosis and arthritis of the spine.
Muscle imbalance that puts more tension around the hip muscles.
Tear in a muscle of the buttocks.
Infection (rare).
Common symptoms include:
Pain on the side of the hip, which can also be felt on the outer thigh.
Pain that is sharp or severe at first, but may become more painful.
Difficulty walking and getting up.
Joint stiffness
Swelling and warmth of the hip joint.
Catch and click sensation.
You may feel more pain when
Getting up from a chair or bed
Sitting for a long time
Climbing stairs
Sleeping or lying on the affected side
Exams and tests
Your Livebetter masseuse will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. The masseur may do the following during the exam:
Ask him to point out the location of the pain.
Feel and press the area of your hip and the muscles that are related.
Move your hip and leg as you lie on the exam table.
Ask him to stand, walk, sit and stand.
Measure the length of each leg.
Many cases go away with rest and personal care. For this we can program a series of massages, exercises, stretching and advice to improve the mobility and elasticity of the muscles and tendons and reduce inflammation.
Your provider may recommend that you try the following:
Use an ice pack 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 to 3 days.
Avoid activities that make pain worse.
When sleeping, do not lie on the side that has bursitis.
Avoid standing for long periods of time.
When standing, stand on a soft, cushioned surface. Put the same amount of weight on each leg.
Placing a pillow between your knees when lying on your side can help decrease pain.
Wear comfortable, well-padded, low-heeled shoes.
Lose weight if you are overweight.
Strengthen your core muscles.
As the pain goes away, your provider may suggest exercises to strengthen and prevent muscle atrophy.
To help prevent hip pain:
Always warm up and stretch before exercising and cool down afterwards. Stretch your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and in general all related muscles.
Don't increase the distance, intensity, and amount of time you exercise at the same time.
Avoid running downhill in a straight line. Walk down instead.
Swim instead of running or biking.
Run on a smooth surface, like a running track or grass. Avoid running on concrete or asphalt.
If you have flat feet, try special shoe inserts and arch supports (orthotics).
Make sure your running shoes fit well and have good cushioning.