Innova Pain Clinic
Trochanteric Bursitis and Hip Pain
As a chiropractor, one very common hip pain that I see this time of year is trochanteric bursitis. It is characterized as sharp pain on the outside of the hip. The pain seems to be worse with walking, running, and stair climbing. Sometimes, the pain will radiate into the outside of the thigh, a few inches above the knee.
The bursa provides a cushion between the trochanter of the femur and the TFL muscle.
Trochanteric bursitis is a bit more common in women than men, and seems to effect adults more than children. It can occur in active and sedentary individuals. There are a number of factors that can lead to trochanteric bursitis. The one which I treat, using chiropractic protocols, involves inflammation and irritation of the bursa due to altered joint mechanics and tightness of the iliotibial band (IT Band).
The TFL muscle (outlined in red) runs from the hip to the knee, along the outside of the thigh.
The IT Band is an extension of the TFL muscle which runs from the outside of the pelvis down to the knee. It helps with walking and keeping the pelvis stable when the opposite leg is lifted. When the IT Band is too tight, or if the femur is externally rotated, the bursa can become irritated and swell, causing pain.
The chiropractic approaches I use in my St George office involve:
- Inflammation reduction in the bursa. Usually involving ultrasound therapy.
- Trigger point elimination using ischemic compression therapy.
- Muscle balancing using interferential electrical muscle stimulation.
- Joint biomechanic restoration using innovative joint manipulation protocols.
These approaches help to reduce the pain and restore function to the hip. Although each patient is different and the treatment plan is designed specifically for each case, the average treatment plan is 5-8 sessions over a 2-week period.
If you are having hip pain, stop by my St George UT chiropractic office for an evaluation of the hip pain.
Dr. Andrew White | St George Chiropractor