Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric/Hip Bursitis & Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS): What’s the difference & what are the causes?

You may have been diagnosed with Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric Bursitis or Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) or if you’ve seen more than one health professional, you may well have been given two different diagnoses. Or maybe you’ve just been searching the internet to make your own diagnosis and are confused about the different terminology. As physiotherapists seeing a high volume of patients with this condition, we know terminology can be confusing. Let’s explore the different diagnoses and causes.

Recovering from Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric Bursitis or GTPS

This rehab course offers an evidence-based program developed by a world leading expert, Dr Alison Grimaldi. It helps you understand your condition, and provides powerful self-help tips and exercises to help you recover from Gluteal Tendinopathy and Trochanteric Bursitis.

FIRST LESSON IS FREE!

Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric Bursitis, Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome – Are they all the same thing?

Pain over the outer side of the hip is commonly related to the way that the muscles, tendons and bones in this area interact. There is a part of the thigh bone (femur) that is more prominent at the side of the hip. This is called the greater trochanter. Most of the muscles that help you balance when you are standing on one leg either join onto or pass over this bony area. The deep gluteal muscles join onto the bone via fibrous tendons. Small flat ‘cushions’ called bursae reduce friction between the bone, the tendons and the overlying fibrous Iliotibial band that runs from the pelvis to the knee (a lot of anatomy to take in? – this is important to remember for the next part so hang in there…).

As all of these structures are so closely packed together, one or more of them may be irritated by the same activities or positions. Pain in the area may be described with different names depending on where you live and who has diagnosed you. The condition may be diagnosed as:

  • gluteal tendinopathy
  • gluteus medius or minimus tendinitis
  • trochanteric bursitis or just hip bursitis
  • Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) (which just refers to any irritated tissues over this bone).

Regardless of which term your health professional has used, the underlying causes for the pain are usually the same, so let’s move on to discussing this in more detail.

Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric Bursitis, Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome – What Are The Causes?

Many factors influence the health of the tendons and bursae, but either too much or too little stimulus may cause reduced health over time. Particular forces or loads may be more problematic than others.

The way you sit, stand, walk or run may contribute to gluteal tendinopathy and hip bursitis

Compression of the gluteal tendons may occur as the tendons wrap around the outer surface of the greater trochanter – the part of the femur (thigh bone) into which they are anchored. An increase in tension (stretch) in the overlying Iliotibial band may further increase compression of the tendons and bursae that sit between the band and the bone.

Positions where the knee crosses the body, or the hip is shifted out to the side will increase the tension in the iliotibial band and therefore the compression of the tendons and bursae at the greater trochanter.

Compression of the gluteal tendons occurs as the tendons wrap around the outer surface of the greater trochanter into which they are anchored. Positions where the knee crosses the body or the hip is shifted out to the side, increase the tension in the band, compressing the tendons and bursae that sit between the band and the bone.1

  • Postural habits such as hanging on one hip (as pictured here) or sitting with the knees crossed, place some tension and higher compressive loads on the tendons.
  • Poor control of pelvic position (hip sagging and shifting) when walking, climbing stairs, running and squatting may also lead to excessive levels of compression and tension, potentially reducing health of the tissues.

All of these factors can be involved with your gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis.

Changes in the health of the gluteal tendon and trochanteric bursa usually develop over many years. The tissues become less able to tolerate physical loads and pain may develop. Pain is the body’s way of warning us that we may not be coping with current loads.

Recovering from Gluteal Tendinopathy, Trochanteric Bursitis or GTPS

This rehab course offers an evidence-based program developed by a world leading expert, Dr Alison Grimaldi. It helps you understand your condition, and provides powerful self-help tips and exercises to help you recover from Gluteal Tendinopathy and Trochanteric Bursitis.

FIRST LESSON IS FREE!

Pain at the side of the hip after a slip, fall or change in activity levels

The pain may come on after a slip or fall, but more commonly begins after a sudden increase in activity. Your tendons are just telling you that you have done too much too soon. This might have been:

  • taking up a new sport
  • joining a gym or exercise class
  • taking up hill or power walking
  • increased walking or stair climbing while on holidays
  • returning too quickly to your normal activities after injury, illness or pregnancy.
Gluteal Tendinopathy_Blog 1_Fig3_Common triggers

Other health factors that might increase risks of gluteal tendinopathy

Other factors influencing your gluteal tendinopathy can include a change in general health, medications, weight or hormones. This problem is much more common in women, particularly after or around the time of menopause. It is thought that oestrogen has some protective effect on tendons, that is reduced after menopause.2 A common story we hear from our patients, is that the pain started with a combination of:

  1. hormonal change during menopause,
  2. weight gain during this time and
  3. a sudden increase in activity levels to help control weight gain.

Obesity and diabetes can increase the risk of developing gluteal tendinopathy. Carrying excess weight can place higher physical loads on the gluteal tendons when walking or standing on one leg.3 Fat cells also release small inflammatory proteins that circulate in the blood.

High blood glucose levels associated with diabetes can also contribute to systemic inflammation and reduce health and regenerative capacity of tendons.4

Some medications can also affect tendon health - certain types of antibiotics and statins - used for reducing cholesterol. If your hip pain has come on after starting a new medication, check with your general medical practitioner if that medication could affect your tendons.

Part of a comprehensive program for managing gluteal tendinopathy and hip bursitis includes working towards improving your general health.

You can find much more information to help fix your gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis (GTPS), in our self-help gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis course - the sooner, the better - get started today!

An interview and physical assessment with a Hip Pain Professional  can help clarify which factors may have contributed to the development of your hip pain. A specific, personalised plan can then be actioned to help you overcome your problem. If time, distance or finance is an issue here, try our gluteal tendinopathy self-help course.

This blog was originally posted on February 9th, 2020, and was updated and reposted on January 14th 2024.

Authors

This blog was written by Dr Alison Grimaldi and Kirsty McNab, physiotherapists who have over 50 years of combined professional clinical experience, dealing with patients suffering from a wide range of hip and pelvic conditions.

Dr Alison Grimaldi - Hip Pain Professional

Dr. Alison Grimaldi BPhty, MPhty(Sports), PhD, FACP is a fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, Practice Principal of PhysioTec Physiotherapy, an Australian Sports Physiotherapist , an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, as well as an author and global educator

Kirsty McNab hip pain professional and hip physio
Kirsty McNab BSc Hons, MPhty(Sports), is Practice Principal of Physiologix and a highly experienced Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist having worked extensively with elite athletes, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, and Tennis Australia.
Recovering-from-Piriformis-Syndrome-Deep-Gluteal-Syndrome-or-Hip-Related-Sciatica

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