Sports Medicine: Greater Trochanter Bursitis
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac, like a water balloon. It reduces rubbing between the bone and the surrounding soft tissue, like muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Bursitis occurs when there is swelling and pain in a bursa. In this case, it affects the bursa that covers the bony prominence in the thigh bone (femur) on the outside of the hip, called the greater trochanter.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, tenderness, or swelling at the greater trochanter of the hip
- In rare cases redness, warmth, and/or fever may be present if the bursa is infected
- Pain with standing, sitting, walking, or squatting for long periods of time
Increased Risk
- Older age
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Leg length difference
- Females
- Scoliosis or low back injury
- Fast movements or doings movements over and over again
- Contact sports where collision with other players, equipment or the ground is present (football, basketball, soccer)
Treatment
- Medicine
- Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.
- You may use other minor pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol®).
- Steroid injections into the bursa may be used to reduce swelling for severe cases.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed if the bursa becomes infected.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.
- Use of cold and heat
- Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage. Raise the foot and ankle at or above heart level to reduce swelling.
- Heat may be used before stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your health care provider or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or a warm soak. Apply for 10
to 15 minutes.
- Rehab
- Stretching and strengthening exercises may be recommended and often done under care of a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
How to Prevent
- Use proper technique and wear protective equipment.
- Maintain proper body weight.
- Use shoe inserts for leg-length differences.
- Maintain proper conditioning, flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance.
- Do correct warm-up and cool down before and after practice or competition.
When to Call the Doctor
Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:
- Symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 to 4 weeks, despite treatment.
- Signs of infection develop like fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit (F) or 38° Celsius (C) or higher.
- New, unexplained symptoms develop.
Sports Medicine: Greater Trochanter Bursitis (PDF)
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