What Is Hip Bursitis?
If you suffer from pain or tenderness on the outside of your hip that gets worse when walking or running, you may be suffering from hip bursitis.Hip bursitis is a painful condition that is quite common. It is characterized by the inflammation or irritation of a fluid-filled sac called a bursa. This structure encases the hip joint. In doing so, protects the tendons and muscles that are attached to the hip bone. In addition to the hips, bursitis develops quite often in the elbow and shoulder, but it may also develop in other joints.
There are two major types of hip bursitis: trochanteric bursitis and iliopsoas bursitis.
Trochanteric bursitis is primarily diagnosed in older adults. It is commonly caused by trauma or the degenerative effects from aging. However, differences in prevalence or incidence of trochanteric bursitis based on gender have not been identified.
On the other hand, iliopsoas bursitis occurs when the bursa that is connected to the iliopsoas tendon becomes inflamed. This form of bursitis is common in young adults and adolescents, especially women. It is referred to as the snapping-tendon syndrome. This is due to the abnormal movement of swollen muscles in the hip region that cause snapping which can be felt or heard when the hip flexes.
Hip bursitis video
Hip Bursitis Risk Factors
This condition is usually the result of a serious injury, a work-related accident, or overusing the hip joint. As individuals age, soft tissue that surrounds the hip joint becomes less flexible and durable. Serious injuries and repetitive movements worsen the condition of soft tissue and increase the risk of developing bursitis. Rheumatoid arthritis is another common cause of bursitis as the chronic arthritic inflammation of the hip joint may also cause adjacent structures to begin to swell and become irritated.In rare instances, bursitis may develop in conjunction with a systemic disease such as a bacterial or fungal infection, tuberculosis, or gout. Diabetes and thyroid disease may lead to the development of bursitis as well. Additional risk factors that increase the incidence of bursitis include:
- Age
- Poor posture
- Overtraining
- Repetitive activities
- Gait abnormalities
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Inadequate or improper stretching before physical activity
