Patient Information

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/information/greater-trochanteric-pain-syndrome

What is greater trochanteric pain syndrome?

This condition affects the muscles and tendons on the outside of your hip.

It is also commonly referred to as ‘trochanteric bursitis’, ‘lateral hip pain’ or ‘gluteal tendinopathy’.

What causes it?

There is often not a single cause or event. It is often associated with a change in activity such as increasing walking, starting a new hobby or decreasing activity levels. It can be a combination of small changes over time.

Other factors that contribute include:

gaining weight
prolonged time standing
having a wider pelvis
muscle tightness or weakness around the hip.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can vary but it’s typical to have one or more of the following:

aching around the outside of your hip and upper leg
pain when lying on your side
pain going uphill or upstairs
pain when crossing your legs
pain when standing on one leg
pain when rising from a chair and on the first few steps after rest.

Speak to your GP or pharmacist for advice on pain relief.

What can you do to help?

There are a number of things you can do to help ease symptoms.

Place your feet wider apart when going upstairs.
Sleep on your back or on your non-painful side with a pillow between your knees.

Photo of woman lying on her side with a pillow between her knees

Photo of woman standing with most of her weight on her left leg, causing her left hip to jut out to her left. Photo has a red cross over it to indicate this is a poor position

Avoid things that aggravate the pain, such as:

sitting with crossed legs
lying on your painful side
sitting in low chairs
standing with weight shifted to one hip (called hanging on the hip, see picture, left).

Exercises

The main treatment is a combination of reducing activities that make it worse, and gradual strengthening exercises.

Complete the following exercises every day. Start with the lower number of repetitions and gradually increase as they become easier. It is OK for there to be some discomfort when completing the exercises. Usually symptoms will improve within 3 to 6 months.

Push out against a belt around the knees

Lay on your back with a belt around your knees and your legs hip width apart.
Push both legs out against the belt.
Hold for 15 seconds.
Repeat this 5 to 10 times, twice a day.

Photo of man lying on his back with a band around his legs, just above the knees

Bridging

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip width apart.
Pushing through your heels and squeezing your buttocks, raise your bottom as far as comfortable.
Slowly lower back down. Try not to hold your breath.
Repeat 8 to 15 times, once a day.

Two photos of man lying on his back with his feet on the floor, knees bent. In the first photo, his bottom is on the floor. In the second, his hips are raised.

Squatting

Stand in front of a chair with feet hip width apart.
Squat down by sitting your hips back, as if you are going to sit down.
Push back up into standing.
Repeat 8 to 15 times, once a day.

Photo of man squatting backwards, lowering himself to a chair

Side stepping

Step side to side.
Repeat 8 to 15 steps in each direction, once a day.

Photo of man standing with feet hip-width apart

Photo of man standing, this time one pace to his left

Contacts

Physiotherapy

020 8934 2510 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
khft.physioop@nhs.net

Translate

Please speak to a member of staff before or during your visit to the hospital if you require translation.

Accessibility

Please contact the Patient Experience Team on 020 8934 3850 if you need this information in a different format.
For information accessibility please visit Kingston Hospital AccessAble www.accessable.co.uk/kingston-hospital-nhs-foundation-trust

Support services

Visit the hospital website, ask a member of staff, or ring us for details.

www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk

Switchboard 020 8546 7711

‘Find Us’ page for maps, transport, registering a blue badge, disabled access
Information, advice and support for patients and relatives (PALS) 020 8934 3993
Pastoral and Spiritual Support 020 8546 7711
Learning Disability Liaison Team 020 8934 6895

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Translate

Please speak to a member of staff before or during your visit to the hospital if you require translation support to access Patient Information. Please ring the phone number on your appointment letter, if you have one.

Request More Information

Accessibility

Please contact the Patient Experience Team on 020 893 3850 if you need this information in a different format.
For detailed information on accessibility at Kingston Hospital visit Kingston Hospital AccessAble (https://www.accessable.co.uk/kingston-hospital-nhs-foundation-trust).

Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)

PALS provides information, advice and support to patients and relatives.

Email: khft.pals@nhs.net

Phone: 020 8934 3993 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Pastoral and Spiritual Support Service

We offer a multi-cultural approach serving people of all faiths and life philosophies.

Phone the hospital switchboard: 020 8546 7711 and ask for the Duty Chaplain, we are available 24 hours per day 7 days a week.

Learning Disability Liaison Service

We support patients and/or their carers to prepare for a visit, including help to organise reasonable adjustments.

Email: khft.learningdisabilityteam@nhs.net

Phone: 020 8934 6895 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)