Hip Tendinopathy is pain, swelling or tissue breakdown in and around the tendon attachment in your hip muscles. This may also be commonly referred to as hip tendonitis or hip tendinosis. This is usually described as a persistent injury or disease that affects a tendon.
Causes
- Repetitive Stress or overuse to a muscle group that happens with gradual wear and tear or repeating the same motion/activity continuously.
- Sudden Injury
Risk Factors include
- An excessive amount of running or bicycling and a fall or trauma causing a sudden injury.
- Poor stretching or conditioning prior to exercise
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, Stiffness or loss of strength in the hip
- Pain increase when the tendon is used
- Pain of stiffness at night or in the morning when you wake up
- May notice a crunchy sound or feeling when the tendon is used
Diagnosis: When should you seek further evaluation?
- Further treatment should be sought if you are experiencing persistent pain after a period of rest that has not resulted in a decrease of symptoms.
- If the area is swollen, warm, or there’s redness.
- Tendonitis vs. Tendinosis
| Tendonitis | Tendinosis |
| Def: Inflammation of the tendon | Def: non inflammatory degenerative condition where collagen degeneration in the tendon occurs due to repetitive overloading |
| Cause:Overuse of the tendon by sudden force or impact to the tendon | Chronic case of tendonitis. |
| Symptoms: Pain in the tendon/affected area | Ache or pain, stiffness in the area, worsening pain with use |
| Tx: Anti-Inflammatories, rest, ice | Functional Rehab; usually does not respond well to anti-inflam, rest and ice |
What should you expect from your doctor's appointment?
- Your doctor will go over your medical history and current signs and symptoms as well as go through special tests and a physical exam to determine the cause of pain.
- Usually for Hip Tendinopathy it can be diagnosed from the physical exam and a x-ray and MRI are not warranted.
- In rare cases surgery may be needed.
Treatment
- Rest is recommended from the activity that initially caused the pain. This may take a couple of weeks or a few months of rest to see a decrease in symptoms.
- Ice is recommended for 10-15 minutes at least 3-4 times a day to help with the pain and swelling.
- NSAIDS or Naproxen may be prescribed to help with the inflammation. If this does not show relief a corticosteroid may be given.
- If Tendinopathy is not treated correctly this can lead to cell death in the tendon which prognosis is very low and surgery may be warranted.
Prevention
- Proper Warming up and stretching prior to an exercise session.
- Choose or follow an exercise plan that gradually increases activity
- If you are experiencing pain during exercise, STOP that activity.
- Listen to your body and DO NOT push yourself past your limits.
