Understanding Your Hip Pain

Focusing on Lateral Hip Discomfort at Reform:

Fitness & Therapy

Are you experiencing a persistent ache on the side of your hip, or discomfort that makes

standing, walking, or even sleeping a challenge? You're not alone. Hip pain is a very common complaint we see daily at Reform: Fitness & Therapy in Ooltewah, TN, often multiple times a day. Understanding the nature of your pain is the first step towards effective

relief and lasting recovery. Generally, hip pain stems from two primary sources: issues within the hip joint itself or problems with the surrounding muscles and tendons.

While pain can manifest in many ways, here are the two most frequent patterns we see:

• Back or side of the hip pain is frequently linked to muscular or tendon issues. This

includes conditions like gluteal pain (originating from your "butt muscles") or piriformis

syndrome.

• Groin pain, on the other hand, is more often indicative of underlying hip joint problems.

For this post, we're going to focus on lateral hip pain, specifically issues related to the gluteal muscles and tendons. If you're experiencing groin pain, keep an eye out for Part 2 of this series!

Understanding Lateral Hip Pain: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)

The general term for pain on the outer side of the hip is Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

(GTPS). This is an umbrella term that encompasses several conditions, including gluteal

tendinopathy, hip bursitis, and IT band pain. Even with advanced imaging like MRIs, pinpointing the exact source of this lateral hip pain can be challenging because it often stems from multiple structures simultaneously.

Another potential cause of lateral hip pain is piriformis syndrome. True piriformis syndrome

occurs when the piriformis muscle directly presses on the sciatic nerve, leading to hip pain and pain radiating down the back of the leg. However, current findings suggest that this specific scenario is relatively rare. More often, the pain is due to an irritated nerve in the low back, which then leads to irritation in the hip musculature and referred leg pain.

Common triggers for GTPS and piriformis syndrome include:

• Standing predominantly on the affected leg.

• Going up or downstairs.

• Sitting on hard surfaces.

• Crossing the legs.

• Lying on the affected side.

These activities place stress on the lateral hip's muscles or bursa. The pain usually develops

gradually from overuse, poor movement mechanics, or doing too much too soon. Although less common, acute injuries, such as falling directly on the hip or sudden cutting or turning

movements during sports, can also cause a strain in the area.

How Do We Address Greater Trochanteric Pain at Reform: Fitness & Therapy?

The first and most crucial step at Reform: Fitness & Therapy is identifying why your hip pain is occurring. If there's a specific acute injury event, such as a fall or sports incident, the cause is generally straightforward. Acute injuries often heal effectively with activity modification and time. For any acute or severe pain, it's always best to consult a medical professional, such as a physical therapist, athletic trainer, or physician, to rule out serious injuries. They'll guide you on suitable exercises and activity limitations as you recover.

For hip pain that has persisted for weeks, months, or even years, the root cause may not be

localized solely to the hip. This is where our integrated approach at Reform: Fitness & Therapy truly shines, embracing the concept of regional interdependence. Issues elsewhere in the body, such as core stability deficits, hip muscle weakness, or endurance limitations, may be unknowingly overloading the hip. For example, if your core or hip muscles lack the strength and endurance to adequately stabilize the hip during everyday activities like walking, stair climbing, or jumping, the gluteal muscles and tendons may become overstrained. Repeated stress on the greater trochanter will eventually cause tissue breakdown and persistent pain.

What's the Next Step for Your Hip Pain?

When you come to Reform: Fitness & Therapy in Ooltewah for hip pain, our Doctor of Physical Therapy and Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, Dr. Mary Gregory Stocker, will perform a thorough assessment of your muscle strength, flexibility, core stability, and movement patterns.

Based on the findings from your comprehensive evaluation, you'll collaborate on a personalized Pilates-based exercise plan tailored specifically to your goals. This plan will include targeted exercises to strengthen weak areas, improve flexibility, and reeducate your body's movement. We'll also provide essential activity modifications to allow your hip to recover while keeping you as active as possible throughout your rehabilitation journey.

Our integrated Pilates and Physical Therapy approach is uniquely positioned to address the

complexities of lateral hip pain, helping you not just alleviate symptoms but build lasting

strength and efficient movement.

Ready to find lasting relief from your hip pain? Contact Reform: Fitness & Therapy today to

schedule your initial consultation in Ooltewah, TN, and take the first step toward moving better, feeling better, and living better.