Gluteal Tendinopathy & Outer Hip Pain, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Pain on the outside of your hip when walking, climbing stairs or lying on your side?
Gluteal tendinopathy is a common cause of persistent outer hip pain and can often be managed effectively with the right combination of education, progressive rehabilitation and appropriate treatment.
At Tenby Health, we assess outer hip pain to establish the most likely cause and determine whether imaging or additional treatment would be useful.
What is gluteal tendinopathy?
Gluteal tendinopathy is one of the most common causes of pain on the outer side of the hip. It affects the gluteal tendons - most often the gluteus medius or gluteus minimus, where they attach to the greater trochanter, the bony prominence felt on the outer hip. Changes in tendon structure and load tolerance can develop over time, leading to pain and reduced capacity for everyday activity or exercise.
Gluteal tendinopathy is sometimes referred to as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), a term that acknowledges that the pain in this region can arise from a number of structures, including the tendons themselves, as well as associated bursae. In many cases, the gluteal tendons appear to play a more important role than the bursa, which has implications for how the condition is managed.
Like other tendinopathies, this condition often reflects a problem with tissue load and adaptation rather than simple inflammation, particularly when symptoms have been present for several weeks or months.
Not all pain around the hip comes from the gluteal tendons. If your symptoms are less clearly localised, you can read more about our Hip Pain assessment and the other conditions that can cause pain around the hip.
Common Symptoms
The pain associated with gluteal tendinopathy is typically localised to the outer hip, though it may radiate into the outer thigh. Common features include:
• Pain over the outer hip, often worse when lying on the affected side
• Discomfort when sitting with legs crossed or in low, soft seating
• Pain on walking, particularly uphill, on stairs, or after prolonged walking
• Pain when rising from sitting or standing on one leg
• Tenderness on pressing directly over the greater trochanter
Symptoms are often aggravated by positions that increase compression of the tendons, such as crossing the legs, standing with the hip shifted to one side, or sleeping on the affected side without a pillow between the knees.
Who does it commonly affect?
Gluteal tendinopathy can affect a wide range of people, but it is particularly common in middle-aged women. It may also occur in active people following changes in the amount or type of load placed on the hip.
• Women in middle age and later life
• Runners, walkers and people who regularly climb hills or stairs
• People whose symptoms have followed an increase or change in physical activity
• People who spend prolonged periods in positions that compress the outer hip
• People with reduced strength or capacity around the hip
How is gluteal tendinopathy usually treated?
Treatment usually centres on reducing aggravating compression and progressively rebuilding the strength and load tolerance of the gluteal tendons.
This may include position and load modification, progressive gluteal and hip strengthening, changes to walking or training, and a gradual return to normal activity.
Rehabilitation and education form the foundation of treatment. For persistent gluteal tendinopathy that has not improved sufficiently with appropriate rehabilitation, focused shockwave therapy may also be considered as part of the overall treatment plan.
Why our approach is different
Outer hip pain can arise from several structures, so treatment begins with a detailed clinical assessment.
Where imaging is likely to add useful information, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used to assess the gluteal tendons and associated bursae, helping to identify and characterise tendon changes, tears and bursal abnormalities. You can read more about what we can and cannot assess on our Outer Hip Ultrasound Scan page.
We then build an individual management plan which may include:
• Education and load management
• Progressive gluteal and hip rehabilitation
• Focused shockwave therapy for appropriate persistent tendon problems
• Advice on activity, walking and aggravating positions
• Referral for further investigation where another cause of hip pain is suspected
Not sure what is causing your outer hip pain?
If you have persistent pain on the outside of your hip, particularly when walking, climbing stairs or lying on your side, we can assess the problem and help establish the most appropriate next step.
You do not need to know whether you have gluteal tendinopathy before booking. Your initial consultation is designed to work that out.