What Is Hip Bursitis?

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa. Bursae are small, jelly-like sacs that are located throughout the body, including around the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and heel. They contain a small amount of fluid, and are positioned between bones and soft tissues, acting as cushions to help reduce friction. There are two major bursae in the hip that typically become irritated and inflamed. One bursa covers the bony point of the hip bone called the greater trochanter. Inflammation of this bursa is called trochanteric bursitis. 

By far, the most common type of hip bursitis is from the trochanteric bursa. This can be injured in one of two ways, through a direct impact to the bursa, such as a fall onto the outer hip, which is known as traumatic bursitis, or through repetitive friction from the overlying muscles and tendons, usually during running. This repeated friction results in the bursa becoming inflamed and swollen. Every time the tendons then rub over the bursa, this causes pain. Typically, the pain is worse at night, when lying on the affected hip, and when getting up from a chair after being seated for a while. It also may get worse with prolonged walking, stair climbing, or squatting.

Another bursa — the iliopsoas bursa — is located on the inside (groin side) of the hip. When this bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is also sometimes referred to as hip bursitis, but the pain is located in the groin area. This condition is not as common as trochanteric bursitis but is treated in a similar manner. 

•Trochanteric bursa – Outside of the hip between the greater trochanter and gluteal muscles.
•Gluteus medius bursa – Between the gluteus medius muscle and the greater trochanter
•Iliopsoas bursa – Between the iliopsoas muscle at the front hip joint and the underlying bone
•Ischial bursa – Between the hamstring tendons and the base of the pelvis.

5280 Cryo offers a variety of services to assist you in your treatment and recovery. From massage therapy, A.R.T treatments, whole body cryotherapy (WBC), Chiropractic techniques, spinal decompression, and more. To find out what type of service best fits your needs for healing, contact us today

Click here to go back to hip conditions