Gluteal muscle tendinitis or tendinopathy
It is an irritation of one or more tendons of the gluteal muscles. The most common is tendinopathy of the gluteus medius.
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
What is the difference between tendinitis and tendinopathy?
The two are almost identical. Science has recently discovered that there is not always inflammation present in tendon pain.
"So when there is tendon pain without inflammation, it is called tendinopathy. When there is tendon pain with inflammation of the tendon, it is called tendinitis."
In both cases, whether it is tendinitis or tendinopathy, the treatment is not very different. We will therefore include tendinopathies and tendinitis as being the same injury.
What is gluteal tendinopathy?
It is an irritation of one or more tendons of the gluteal muscles. The most common is tendinopathy of the gluteus medius.
What is a tendon?
A tendon is the structure that attaches the muscle to the bone. When a muscle contracts, the force is transmitted to the tendon, and the tendon stiffens to move the bones.
What are the causes of gluteal tendinopathy?
It can be caused by:
- Too rapid overload on the hip muscles
- Repetitive hip movements
Here are some classic examples of the development of this pathology:
- Resuming running after winter without proper pacing (especially when doing a lot of hills)
- Going for a mountain hike without being used to it.
What are the risk factors for developing gluteal tendinopathy?
The following factors describe the people most affected by this injury:
- Women over 40 are more often affected
- Women are more affected than men
- Having an inactive and sedentary lifestyle
- Poor training dosage for runners
What are the symptoms of gluteal tendinopathy?
The most common symptoms are:
- Pain or tenderness on the side of the hip that appears more often gradually
- The pain may radiate down the side of the thigh
- The pain may be worse at night and when lying on your side
- The pain is often increased by:
- Walking
- Standing on one leg
- Swaying your hips
- Going down stairs or hills
- Jumping
How is gluteal tendinopathy diagnosed?
Diagnosis is possible based on the history of symptoms and a clinical examination.
When should I see a physiotherapist for gluteal tendinopathy?
You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What physiotherapy treatments are available for gluteal tendinopathy?
Your physiotherapist will conduct an evaluation to determine the cause of your tendinopathy by assessing the following elements:
- Your joint mobility
- The gliding of your nerves
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:
- Mobilize your hip to reduce pain and improve your range of motion.
- Provide you with specific exercises to retrain the control of your hip movements.
- Give you exercises to regain mobility, reduce pain and regain your muscle strength.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Give you advice for your posture and movements.
What can I do at home for gluteal tendinopathy?
Temporarily stop doing movements that cause too much pain, and then gradually start doing them again.
Here are some tips that may help:
- Engage in transfer activities that reduce stress on the hip, such as swimming.
- Avoid the following positions:
- Standing while leaning to one side.
- Sitting with your legs crossed.
- Avoid lying on your sides (either side). If you are unable to sleep on your back, place a pillow between your thighs when lying on your side.
- Take frequent, short breaks from sitting if the pain increases when you are standing for a long time.
- Avoid stretching the iliotibial band.
- If you are a runner, incorporate walking minutes into your running outings.
- Do gluteal strengthening exercises.
If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.
If you are a runner, please refer to the blog post on running (link to come) for practical tips for running.
Sources
- Grimaldi A, Mellor R, Hodges P, Bennell K, Wajswelner H, Vicenzino B. Gluteal tendinopathy: a review of mechanisms, assessment and management. Sports Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;45(8):1107-19.
- Dubois, B. (2019). « The Running Clinic, health through running ». Mons Eds.
Videos in this category
Other conditions
Hip osteoarthritis is a normal wear and tear of the hip joint. Osteoarthritis is often described as the wearing away of cartilage between our bones. While this is true, it involves more than just cartilage. Cartilage is a tissue that acts like a cushion between the surfaces of our bones, allowing our joints to glide smoothly and move with ease.
It is a normal wear and tear of the knee joint. Osteoarthritis is often described as the wearing away of cartilage between our bones. While this is true, it involves more than just cartilage. Cartilage is a tissue that acts like a cushion between the surfaces of our bones, allowing our joints to glide smoothly and move with ease.
It is a normal wear and tear of the joints in the lower back vertebrae. Osteoarthritis is often described as the wearing away of cartilage between our vertebrae. While this is true, it involves more than just cartilage. Cartilage is a tissue that acts like a cushion between the surfaces of our vertebrae, allowing them to glide smoothly and move with ease.
A bursa is like a small, very thin, fluid-filled sac found in several joints throughout the body. This small sac acts as a cushion in the joint and lubricates structures that are exposed to more friction.
It is an inflammation of the subacromial bursa in the shoulder joint.
It is a tissue that surrounds the shoulder and allows the shoulder bone to stay in place within the joint. The capsule helps to stabilize the joint.
Cervicalgia is a general term to describe neck pain that does not have a specific cause, such as an accident or sudden movement. Cervicalgia is therefore synonymous with ''I have a pain in my neck and nothing in particular happened''.
In both injuries, there is pain felt in the neck that then radiates into the arm, or vice versa.
It is a significant stretch or tear of the muscle fibers in the groin or inner thigh muscles.
It is a significant stretch or tear of the muscle fibers in the hamstring muscles located at the back of the thigh.
This is a significant stretch or tear of the muscle fibers in the calf muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius).
This is a significant stretch or tear of the muscle fibers in the quadriceps, which is the large muscle at the front of the thigh.
Book an appointment now
We offer a triple quality guarantee: optimized time, double physiotherapy assessment, and ongoing expertise for effective care tailored to your needs.
Our clients' satisfaction is our priority.
At Physioactif, excellence defines our approach. But don't take our word for it, see what our patients are saying.
Discover our physiotherapy clinics
We have multiple locations to better serve you.
Blainville
190 Chem. du Bas-de-Sainte-Thérèse Bureau 110,
Blainville, Quebec
J7B 1A7
Laval
Montreal
St-Eustache
Vaudreuil
21 Cité-des-Jeunes Blvd. Suite 240,
Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec
J7V 0N3
Book an appointment now
