What is Gluteal Tendinopathy?
Gluteal tendinopathy occurs when the tendons in your glute muscles experience more strain than they can handle, leading to a poor healing response. This can change the structure of the tendon. When this happens in the tendons of the gluteal muscles, it is called gluteal tendinopathy.
The gluteal muscles are three large muscles at the back of your pelvis that make up most of your buttocks. These muscles work together to keep your pelvis level while standing and are important for movements like walking, running, and standing.
The two deepest glute muscles, the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, connect from the pelvis (the sacrum) and attach to the outer part of the upper thigh bone, called the greater trochanter, through the gluteal tendons.
What Causes Tendinopathy in Tendons?
Like muscles, skin, and bones, tendons are living tissues that can be affected by various factors such as hormones, age, and how often and intensely they are used. If you suddenly increase your activity level or do the same activities too much, the tendon can become stressed and begin to break down.
Recent studies have shown that tendon health can also be affected by compression, which can happen from things like direct trauma or even habits like crossing your legs or sleeping on a hard mattress.
What are the Symptoms of Gluteal Tendinopathy?
When tendinopathy affects the gluteal tendons, people often experience sharp pain on the outside of the hip, especially during certain movements. This pain tends to worsen with walking, climbing stairs, or running. The pain can become very intense and may interfere with daily activities.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
To get an accurate diagnosis, a thorough assessment is needed. Once gluteal tendinopathy is confirmed, your physiotherapist can help identify the causes and address them. Research shows that specific exercises and muscle retraining can help the tendon heal by reorganizing the collagen fibers in the tendon. Your physiotherapist can also look at your posture and daily activities to see if they are contributing to the problem and help make changes if necessary.
Remember, the information in this article is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for advice on your specific injury.