hip bursitis

Hip bursitis is a painful condition that affects 15% of women and 8.5% of men of all ages in the United States. The condition tends to develop more in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Hip bursitis can have many causes, but the most common is a repetitive activity, such as walking or running on an uneven surface, which creates friction in the hip area. Athletes often develop hip bursitis after running up and down hills repetitively. The condition can also be caused by abnormal walking, such as limping, due to an uneven leg length, or arthritis in the back, hip, knee, or other joints in the leg. It can also occur without any specific cause.

There are several risk factors for hip bursitis. These may include:

• Spine problems
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Trauma and falls
• Overuse and repetitive strain
• Lack of physical exercise

Physical therapy can be an effective treatment for hip bursitis to reduce pain, swelling, stiffness, and any associated weakness in the hip, back, or lower extremity.

When you visit a physical therapist for hip bursitis, they will conduct an initial evaluation. Questions will be asked about your hip pain and how it started. Be prepared to talk about how your symptoms are changing, how they behave, what makes your pain better or worse. Tell your therapist how your hip pain from bursitis is affecting your functional mobility.

Your therapist can get an idea of the severity of your hip bursitis during this evaluation. More severe cases cause significant limitations in walking and sleeping; mild cases may cause some pain, but functional mobility may not be affected to a great extent.

After your therapist performs an examination, they should have enough information to determine the root cause of your hip bursitis and start treatment. A plan of care will be discussed with you.