What Is Gluteal Tendinopathy?
When the gluteal tendons become inflamed due to an injury it is known as gluteal tendinopathy. Why is it produced and how can we solve it?
Gluteal tendinopathy, also known as “trochanteric bursitis,” is one of the causes of hip pain. It is produced by an inflammation in the tendons in the area, which can be caused by different factors. Why does this type of bursitis arise? How can we solve it?
As the article Trochanteric bursitis points out , gluteal tendinopathy is usually caused by repetitive microtrauma. For this reason, many athletes, such as marathon runners, tend to suffer from this condition.
The constant rubbing of the area causes it to suffer and the serous bags (bursa) to become inflamed. However, you do not have to be athletes to suffer from trochanteric bursitis. There are some factors that can influence its manifestation.
Who can get gluteal tendinopathy?
Being an athlete, running marathons, or playing soccer can predispose you to trochanteric bursitis. However, there are other factors that make a person susceptible to it. Let’s see some of them that, with proper treatment, can prevent this condition from making an appearance.
- Obesity . Pressure in the area from excess fat can make bursitis appear more easily.
- Fibromyalgia The muscle stiffness that occurs in this disease can cause friction in the area to cause gluteal tendinopathy.
- Hip arthritis Undoubtedly, this problem that causes inflammation of the joints in the area can favor the appearance of trochanteric bursitis.
- Gonarthrosis. Cartilage degeneration can lead to the appearance of this type of tendinopathy.
If you have felt identified with any of these factors, you may have a greater chance of suffering from it, although this does not mean that you are going to manifest it. However, it is necessary that you know what are the symptoms that warn of its appearance.
Symptoms of trochanteric bursitis
When you suffer from gluteal tendinopathy, a series of symptoms appear that, perhaps, can be confused with other types of problems.
Therefore, despite the fact that at first the discomfort may not be very serious, we always recommend going to a health professional. In this way, the discomfort is prevented from increasing over time. But, in addition, treatment can be started as soon as possible so that this circumstance does not worsen.
- Clicking and pain in the area.
- Stiffness in the joints in the area.
- Difficulty walking without noticing discomfort.
- Pain that extends to the front of the thigh.
- Sensation of pain that reaches the inner thigh area.
- Pain near the ischial tuberosity that extends to the buttock.
As you have seen, pain in the area is the symptom that will appear, sometimes, accompanied by a clicking sound.
Whether it extends to the front, back, or inner thigh, and sometimes even to the knee, will depend on the activities or movements that promote friction and inflammation of the serous bags.
For example, patients who often have groin pain that extends to the front of the thigh manifest it when they hyperextend the hip. Likewise, those who spend a lot of time sitting often suffer from the last of the symptoms that we have previously presented.
Available treatments
When a patient is diagnosed with gluteal tendinopathy (by means of an X-ray, ultrasound, grammagram, tomography or MRI) it may be recommended to lose weight if this is the cause of bursitis. However, pain relievers may also be prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation.
Also, it is recommended to perform specific exercises that strengthen the gluteal area and hips. Likewise, the importance of not sleeping on the side where the tendinopathy is suffering is emphasized, since this only makes it worse.
In some cases, the removal of fluid from the serous pockets or the injection of a mixture of anesthetic and corticosteroid can give good treatment results.
What to do about gluteal tendinopathy symptoms?
Now that you know gluteal tendinopathy a little better, if you have any symptoms mentioned, do not hesitate to go to the doctor.
This will carry out the pertinent tests so that you can avoid feeling pain and discomfort, since this condition is easily treatable. Have you ever been diagnosed with hip or trochanteric bursitis?
