Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

Common Symptoms

• Pain on the outer side of the hip, sometimes radiating down the thigh
• Discomfort lying on the affected side at night
• Pain with walking, climbing stairs, or rising from a chair
• Tenderness over the outer hip with direct pressure
• Symptoms that build with prolonged standing or single-leg activity

What May Contribute

Lateral hip pain is usually driven by how the gluteal tendons are being loaded, especially compressive postures and sudden changes in demand.

• Sudden increases in walking, running, or standing demand
• Postures that compress the tendons against the bone, such as crossing the legs or hanging on one hip
• Reduced hip and glute strength
• Side-lying sleep positions that compress the area
• Changes in walking volume, terrain, or single-leg loading

How Form and Function Approaches This

Lateral hip pain responds well to a combination of load management and progressive strengthening. We work to reduce compressive load early and rebuild gluteal capacity over time.

• A thorough mechanical and functional assessment to identify what is driving symptoms
• A care plan that may combine hands-on care, movement, education, and recovery strategies based on your presentation
• Clear reasoning at each step, so you understand what we are doing and why
• Coordination with medical providers when imaging, medication, or specialist input would be helpful

Read more about our overall approach to care.

Treatment Options May Include

• Education about postures and positions that compress the involved tendons
• Progressive strength work for the gluteal muscles and surrounding hip
• Adjustments to sleep position and daily habits to reduce compression
• Soft-tissue work for the lateral hip, TFL, and glutes to reduce tendon compression
• Activity modification during the early phase of recovery
• Coordination with a physician for image-guided injection if tendon pain stalls progress

How This Condition Is Commonly Diagnosed

Diagnosis is clinical and based on history, palpation, and provocation testing.

• History of symptom behavior, activity, and sleep position
• Palpation over the greater trochanter
• Provocation tests including single-leg stance and resisted hip abduction
• Imaging reserved for cases where findings would change the plan

Expected Recovery and Prognosis

Most cases improve over several weeks to a few months with consistent load management and strengthening.

Long-term comfort tends to come from continued gluteal strength work and avoiding postures that repeatedly compress the area.

Related Conditions

• Tendinopathy
• Femoroacetabular Impingement
• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Related Services

• Movement-Based Rehabilitation
• Chiropractic Care
• Sport-Specific Rehabilitation

When Symptoms May Require Emergency Medical Evaluation

• Sudden or progressive weakness
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness in the groin or saddle region
• Fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss
• Severe trauma or suspected fracture
• Persistent night pain or rapidly worsening symptoms
• Shortness of breath, chest pain, or other non-musculoskeletal symptoms
• Symptoms that are severe, spreading, or not improving as expected

These symptoms are uncommon, but they can indicate conditions that may require urgent medical evaluation. If you are unsure whether your symptoms fit this category, Form and Function can help guide appropriate next steps or referrals when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions