Hip Bursitis

In this lesson you will learn what hip bursitis is, how it occurs, about symptoms and treatments. Hip bursitis is when the outer bursa (fluid filled sac) becomes inflamed because of a direct blow or an impact. Find more sport injury related topics at injuries main.

Description: Hip Bursitis

• On the outside of the hip are two bursas. Bursas are small fluid-filled sacs located between movable parts of the body especially at joints. In the illustration above you can see a muscle connecting the pelvis (hip bone) with the femur (thigh bone). Pretty close to the thigh bone you can find the two bursas i am talking about. The outer one can become inflamed from a direct blow or impact. For example when you practice butterfly twists and always fall on your hips. Or when you practice the same judo throw over and over again and always fall on your hips.

Symptoms: Hip Bursitis

• Pain on the outside of the hip which becomes worse when you run.
  (can become even worse when don't run at a flat surface)
• Pain when pressure is applied.
• Swelling on the outside of the hip.
• When you sleep, the pain might radiate down the thigh.
• Pain when you lift up the leg sideways. (for example when you do a sidekick)

Treatment: Hip Bursitis

• The best would be to rest until there is no pain at all.
• Apply ice to the outside of the hip to calm down the inflammation and to release pain.
• Run only on flat and even ground. (no cross country runs - no free running)
• Don't practice acrobatics or throwing techniques.
• Consult a doctor.

Trainer advice: Hip Bursitis

• When you have hip bursitis, avoid falling on your hip.
• If you don't take enough rest, the pain might stay for weeks or even month. A doctor might even have to stick a needle into the bursa to drain off fluid (aspirate it) or give you a steroid injection. In the worst case surgery will be necessary.

Related topics: Hip Bursitis

• The Human Skeleton
• Skeletal Muscle System
• Osgood Schlatter Syndrome

Videos: Hip Bursitis

• None