Hip Tendinitis

When the gluteal tendons that are located around the hip become inflamed, there is Hip Tendinitis or Gluteal Tendinopathy. The gluteus maximus, medius and minor can become inflamed but most of the time it is the last two that are most affected.

Women over 40 years of age are more likely to present this pathology that is related to the lack of blood circulation. Cyclists or runners are also quite affected by the constant repetitions when practicing their respective sports that directly involve these tendons. Another group of people that can be affected are those who sit cross-legged for long periods of time or on very rigid surfaces. Usually this pathology as a cause of extra-articular hip pain, coexists with other causes of pain of intra-articular origin.

Other factors that make a person more prone are:

• Obesity
• Fibromyalgia
• Hip arthritis
• Gonarthrosis

Symptoms:
People with Gluteal Tendinopathy feel pain in the lateral area of ​​the hip, causing discomfort when sleeping on the side or standing. The pain can reach the point that it interferes with people's daily functions, equivalent to osteoarthritis. They may also feel a clicking sound in the area, stiffness in the joint, and difficulty walking.

What should I do?
When consulting a specialist doctor, you will most likely request an MRI, to determine which tendons are inflamed and the exact area where the injury is.

Handling:
At first, conservative management is chosen: rest, anti-inflammatories and analgesics, ice and local heat, as well as physical rehabilitation. If a more complex case occurs, there are other treatments such as infiltration with corticosteroids, which provide good results in the short term but lose their effectiveness in the long term. In cases of associated ruptures, arthroscopy is a tool that allows us to manage these injuries. In this pathology, patient education plays a key role, since teaching them to reduce loads on the tendon during certain postures and exercises that help improve their discomfort can have a positive effect on their daily activities.