Hip Bursitis
Bursitis is caused by inflammation of a bursa, a small connective tissue sac that contains a small amount of fluid. Bursas are located throughout the joints of the body such as shoulder; elbow, hip, knee and heel. They act as cushions between bones and the overlying soft tissues and reduce friction between the gliding muscles and the bone.
Trochanteric Bursa and Relationship of the Iiotibial Band and the Greater Trochanter
The bony point of the hip is called the Greater Trochanter. This is the attachment point for muscles that move the hip joint. The Trochanter has a large Bursa overlying it that occasionally becomes irritated, resulting in Hip Bursitis (Trochanteric Bursitis).
Another Bursa is located on the inside of the hip (the groin) this is known as Iliopsoas Bursa. When this Bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is also sometimes referred to as hip Bursitis, but the pain is located in the groin area. This condition is not as common as Iliopsoas Bursitis, but is treated in a similar manner.
Symptoms
The main symptom of Hip Bursitis is pain at the point of the hip. The pain extends to the outside of the thigh area. In the early stages, the pain can be described as sharp and intense. Later, it may become a dull ache.
Typically, the pain becomes worse at night, when lying on the affected hip, also when rising up from a chair after being seated for a long period. It also may get worse with walking, and the climbing of stairs. Hip Bursitis can affect anyone, but is more common in the 60 to 80 year olds and the middle-aged with more women being affected than men.
The following risk factors have been associated with the development of hip bursitis.
- Nepetitive stress injury. This can occur in any sporting activity such as running, football bicycling, or standing for excessive periods of time.
- Hip injury. An injury to the point of the hip can occur when you fall onto to hip or just a bump or bang the hip.
- Spine disease. Scoliosis, Arthritis of the lumbar (lower) spine, and other spine problems, are further risk factors.
- Leg-length inequality. When one leg is shorter than the other by more than an inch or so, it affects the way you walk and can lead to irritation of a Trochanteric Bursa. The risk can be reduced by the use of heel or orthopaedic foot lift.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. This makes the Bursae more likely to become inflamed.
- Previous surgery. Surgery of the hip area or prosthetic implants in the hip can be a cause of irradiation and cause Bursitis.
- Bone Spurs or Calcium Deposits. These can develop within the tendons that attach to the Great Trochanter. They can irritate the Bursa and cause inflammation and resulting in pain.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the Hip Bursitis, the practitioner will perform a physical examination, looking for tenderness at the point on the hip; additional tests will be carried out to rule out other possible injuries or conditions. These tests can include X-rays, Bone scanning, and M.R.I. scanning.
Nonsurgical Treatment
There is little evidence to support the use of physiotherapy to treat hip Bursitis. Cold Laser Therapy is extremely effective in the treatment of Bursitis.
Injection of a Corticosteroid along with a local aesthetic can help relieve the symptoms of hip Bursitis. This is an effective treatment that your doctor may provide.
Low Level Laser Therapy
The lasers used at Central Chiropractic Clinic are certified as Cold Laser. For the past 30 years the technology of Cold Laser Therapy (also known as Low Level Laser Therapy) has been formally accepted in North America and in many other parts of the world such as Europe, Russia and Japan. In all this time there have been no recorded long-term adverse effects from low level laser therapy. It is considered to be non-invasive, painless and safe.
Cold Laser Therapy uses laser light energy to stimulate cells to function optimally. In the body, light sensitive chromophores and other elements within the cell absorb energy, initiating a series of important photochemical changes such as increased production of ATP. The mitochondria and Kreb’s Cycle stimulation initiates the production of ATP, providing the cell with the extra energy needed to accelerate the healing process and positively influence pain. These activities can occur in all types of cells and includes ligament, nerves, cartilage and muscle.
Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a Handheld, non-invasive, light-emitting medical device which is used over different areas of the body. It provides an unmatched advantage in the treatment of conditions such as;
Hip Bursitis
Hip Pain, Sacroiliac joint inflammation
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chronic Neck Shoulder and Back Pain
Whiplash (WAD) injuries Neck Pain, Cervical Disc injury,
Upper Back Pain and Lower Back Pain, Sciatica,
Slipped disc, Prolapsed disc, Herniated disc, Bulging disc
Trapped Nerve
Athletic and Sports Injuries, Ligaments, Tendons, Tendonitis.
Lower Back Pain
Knee and Foot Pain and injury
Shoulder Injury
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Arthritic pain relief, Muscle Spasm
Relief of Muscle and Joint Pain
Skin infections.
Wound Management; including Skin Ulcers, Pressure Sores and Burns.
Soft Tissue Injuries including; Sprains and Strains, Tendonitis and Haematomas.
Joint Disorders; including Arthritic pain
Chronic Pain such as Trigeminal Neuralgia and Chronic Back and Neck
Pain Whiplash (WAD) injuries
