Hip Bursitis (Outer Hip Pain): Symptoms, Causes & PT Treatment
Updated July 20261 minute read
Hip bursitis is irritation of a fluid-filled cushion on the outer hip, causing pain on the side of the hip that's often worse lying on that side, climbing stairs, or after activity. Today, most "bursitis" on the outer hip is understood to involve the nearby gluteal tendons too, which is why strengthening — not just rest or injections — is key. Physical therapy is first-line and works well for most people.
What is hip bursitis?
The greater trochanteric bursa cushions tissues over the bony point of the outer hip. When irritated, it causes lateral hip pain. Because the gluteal tendons attach right there, this region is now often grouped as "greater trochanteric pain syndrome."
Symptoms
Common features are pain and tenderness on the outer hip, worse lying on that side at night, with stairs, or after walking. Pain may spread down the outer thigh.
What causes it / risk factors
A sudden increase in activity, weak gluteal muscles, prolonged side-lying, leg-length differences, and certain gait patterns contribute.
How it's diagnosed
Diagnosis is clinical from the location and aggravating activities. Imaging is reserved for unclear or non-responding cases.
Physical therapy treatment
What a PT does. Your therapist offloads the irritated tissue, corrects contributing factors, and progressively strengthens the glutes. Exercises & progression (overview). Gluteal strengthening, load and posture adjustments (like avoiding prolonged crossed-leg or hanging-on-one-hip positions), and graded return to activity. Exercise outperforms rest alone. Recovery timeline. Many cases improve over several weeks to a few months.
Treatment options compared
PT and load management are first-line. Injections may give short-term relief but don't fix the underlying weakness; strengthening does.
Red flags
A hot, red, swollen hip with fever needs urgent care. Inability to bear weight after a fall also warrants prompt evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Sources (3)
- Mellor R, et al. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2018. — PubMed
- AAOS OrthoInfo: Hip Bursitis. — AAOS OrthoInfo
- MedlinePlus: Bursitis. — NIH/MedlinePlus
This article is for education only and isn't medical advice. Always talk to a licensed clinician about your specific situation.