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Hip bursitis

What is hip bursitis?

Hip bursitis (also called trochanteric bursitis) affects the hip joint. The bursa are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the muscles, ligaments and tendons, helping them to glide smoothly over bone. Bursitis is a condition that causes the bursa to swell, resulting in pain and tenderness. It can be acute (short-lived) or may become chronic (on-going and long-term).

Over time, the bursa can thicken causing any swelling to worsen and leading to loss of movement and increasing muscle weakness.

What causes hip bursitis?

Hip bursitis can have a range of different causes including:

  • Overuse of the hip causing stress in the joint – the condition is common among runners or athletes or sports people whose sport involves a lot of running, such as footballers
  • Post surgical patients who have had surgery for a hip fracture or hip replacement sometimes develop hip bursitis
  • Bacterial infection
  • Hip injury – this can lead to traumatic bursitis
  • Bony spurs on the bones of the hip due to osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Diabetes
  • Scoliosis and other spinal problems
  • Uneven leg lengths

Hip bursitis

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