Trochanteric bursitis is painful swelling near your hip joint. It’s caused by repetitive motions in a sport or at your job that put lots of stress on your hips. Trochanteric bursitis is a type of inflammation that affects your hips.

Understanding the Context

Here’s how to recognize it, treat it -- and prevent it. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), also known as lateral hip pain or trochanteric bursitis, is a common and painful condition which affects the outer side of the hip and thigh. It occurs when the tissues which lie over the outside of the hip bone (greater trochanter) become irritated. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), also known as trochanteric bursitis, is a condition that causes pain and tenderness over the greater trochanter, which is the bony prominence on the outer side of the hip.

Key Insights

The trochanteric bursa covers the posterior facet and lies deep into the gluteus maximus muscle. It also lies over the trochanter attachments of gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and vastus lateralis [8]. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is one of the most common causes of lateral hip pain in adults. In most instances, GTPS is due to a gluteus medius or gluteus minimus tendinopathy, with variable involvement of the regional bursae. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa.

Final Thoughts

There are two major bursae in the hip that typically become irritated and inflamed. One bursa covers the bony point of the hip bone called the greater trochanter. Inflammation of this bursa is called trochanteric bursitis. Trochanteric is just one type of hip bursitis; it affects the outside of the hip. Physical therapy can help you ease pain and regain movement.