Hip pain on the outside of your hip can make walking, sleeping, and daily activities surprisingly difficult. One of the most common causes is Hip Bursitis, also known as Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) and it affects adults of all ages, especially women aged 40–70 and active individuals.
At Trilogy Physiotherapy in Sinnamon Park, we regularly help patients from Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Oxley, Westlake, and the wider Brisbane region overcome this painful and often persistent condition.
Below is your complete guide to understanding hip bursitis, why it happens, and how physiotherapy can help you return to pain-free movement.
What Is Hip Bursitis (GTPS)?
GTPS is not always true bursitis. In many cases, the main issue is irritation of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons, which sit just above the bursa.
Current evidence shows it is actually more of a tendon overload condition rather than inflammation alone (Grimaldi et al., 2022).
GTPS includes:
- Trochanteric bursitis
- Gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy
- ITB compression over the hip
- Lateral hip pain aggravated by lying on your side
Common Symptoms of Hip Bursitis
You may have hip bursitis if you notice:
- Pain on the outside of the hip (greater trochanter)
- Pain when walking, climbing stairs, or standing on one leg
- Sharp pain when lying on the affected side
- Tenderness when pressing on the outer hip
- Pain after increased walking or running
- Soreness after sitting with crossed legs
What Causes Hip Bursitis?
GTPS is usually caused by repetitive compression or overload of the gluteal tendons.
Common contributors include:
- Weak gluteus medius/minimus
- Sudden increase in walking or running
- Tightness in the ITB
- Poor pelvic control
- Standing hip-dropped posture
- Change in footwear or surfaces
- Hormonal factors in peri- and post-menopausal women
- Previous lower limb injuries
People in Brisbane’s western suburbs often report flare-ups after:
- Increasing steps on the River Loop
- Hill walking around Mount Ommaney
- Returning to gym training too quickly
- Long periods sitting in traffic on the Centenary Motorway
How Physiotherapy Helps Hip Bursitis — Evidence-Based Approach
Research strongly supports exercise-based physiotherapy as the most effective treatment for GTPS (Mellor et al., 2016).
At Trilogy Physiotherapy, your treatment may include:
1. Load Management
Reducing activities that compress the hip (e.g., side-lying, long walks) while maintaining fitness.
2. Glute Strengthening
Targeted strengthening of:
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
- Deep hip stabilisers
Evidence shows this reduces pain and improves long-term outcomes (Fearon et al., 2019).
3. Gait & Posture Retraining
Correcting hip-drop walking patterns is essential for lasting improvement.
4. Manual Therapy
To reduce muscle tension and improve movement through:
- Soft tissue release
- Joint mobilisation
- Trigger point therapy
5. Return-to-Activity Planning
We guide you back to:
- Walking
- Running
- Gym training
- Sports (e.g., tennis, golf, netball)
Hip Bursitis Treatment in Sinnamon Park, Jindalee & Mount Ommaney
We treat hip bursitis daily at Trilogy Physiotherapy and see excellent results with structured rehab. We proudly support patients from:
- Sinnamon Park
- Jindalee
- Mount Ommaney
- Seventeen Mile Rocks
- Oxley
- Middle Park
- Durack, Darra & Westlake
If you’re searching for:
- hip bursitis physio Brisbane
- lateral hip pain treatment Sinnamon Park
- GTPS physiotherapist near me
—you’re in the right place.
How Long Does Hip Bursitis Take to Heal?
Most patients see significant improvement within 6–12 weeks of targeted physiotherapy.
Chronic cases may take longer, depending on tendon involvement and lifestyle factors.
The biggest predictor of success?
➡️ Following a structured strengthening program.
When Should You See a Physiotherapist?
Book an assessment if you have hip pain that:
- Lasts more than 1–2 weeks
- Worsens with walking
- Affects sleep
- Radiates down the thigh
- Is tender when you press the outside of your hip
Early intervention = faster recovery. To make an appointment with on our physiotherapists click here.
References
Fearon, A. M., Ganderton, C., Scarvell, J. M., et al. (2019). Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: Clinical features and dynamic stability of the lateral hip muscles. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 49(5), 395–403.
Grimaldi, A., Mellor, R., Hodges, P. (2022). Understanding tendinopathies of the hip. Sports Medicine.
Mellor, R., Grimaldi, A., Wajswelner, H., et al. (2016). Exercise and load management outperform corticosteroid injections for gluteal tendinopathy. BMJ.
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