Manual Physical Therapy’s Benefits for Hip Bursitis Pain
Hip pain can be frustrating and debilitating, making it difficult to complete daily activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even sitting for long periods. When hip pain is caused by conditions like bursitis and gluteus medius tendinopathy, it can become even more challenging to manage. Many people seek relief through medication or even surgery, but there is a non-invasive approach that can help: manual physical therapy. This hands-on treatment method focuses on reducing pain, improving mobility, and restoring function by targeting specific muscles, joints, and soft tissues. Through consistent physical therapy sessions, individuals with hip bursitis can experience significant relief and improve their overall quality of life. At Move Empower Concierge Physical Therapy, we have worked with several patients suffering from bursitis, and through dedication they have seen huge improvements in their pain levels over time thanks to physical therapy.
What Is Manual Physical Therapy?
Manual physical therapy is a hands-on approach that helps reduce pain, improve movement, and restore function in the body. It is often used to treat muscle, joint, and nerve problems. Unlike exercises or machines, manual therapy involves a therapist using their hands to manipulate muscles, joints, and soft tissues to improve mobility and reduce pain.
If you are struggling with hip bursitis pain caused by gluteus medius tendinopathy, manual physical therapy can be a helpful treatment. It works by targeting the specific areas that are inflamed or tight, helping to relieve pressure and restore movement. Therapists use specialized techniques to address underlying causes of pain, which can result in improved function and long-term relief.
What Is Hip Bursitis and Gluteus Medius Tendinopathy?
Hip bursitis happens when the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the hip joint, becomes inflamed. This inflammation can cause pain and stiffness, making it difficult to move freely. One of the main reasons for hip bursitis is gluteus medius tendinopathy, which occurs when the tendons of the gluteus medius muscle become irritated or damaged. The gluteus medius is an important muscle that helps keep the hip stable when walking, standing, or climbing stairs.
When this muscle or its tendon is overused, strained, or injured, it can cause significant pain in the outer hip area. This pain can become worse with movement, leading to difficulty in daily activities. Weakness in the gluteus medius can also contribute to instability, making movements such as standing on one leg or stepping sideways more difficult. Unfortunately, this is a condition that will continue to worsen over time without treatment, and as it worsens, you will find yourself avoiding your favorite activities more and more because they cause you pain.
How Does Manual Physical Therapy Help?
Manual physical therapy in Austin provides pain relief and improves movement by focusing on reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, enhancing flexibility and mobility, breaking up scar tissue, and reducing muscle tension. By using hands-on techniques like soft tissue mobilization and massage, therapists can reduce swelling and irritation around the hip joint. Proper circulation helps speed up the healing process and reduces stiffness in the affected muscles and tendons. Gentle stretching and joint mobilization techniques help restore the normal movement of the hip joint and surrounding muscles. After an injury, scar tissue can form and limit movement. Manual therapy helps break up these adhesions so that the tissues can function normally. Tight muscles can pull on the hip joint and contribute to pain. Manual therapy helps relax these muscles, making movement easier and less painful.
Common Manual Therapy Techniques for Hip Bursitis
Several hands-on techniques can be used to relieve pain and improve function, including soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, joint mobilization, trigger point therapy, and stretching and range-of-motion exercises. These techniques involve using the hands to massage and apply pressure to tight muscles and tendons to reduce stiffness and improve circulation. They also focus on releasing tension in the connective tissues that surround the muscles, gently moving the hip joint to improve mobility, targeting specific tight spots in the muscle that can cause pain, and using guided movements to improve flexibility and reduce discomfort.
Soft tissue mobilization helps increase blood flow to the affected area, speeding up the healing process. Myofascial release focuses on breaking up adhesions and tightness in the connective tissues, which can be a major source of pain. Joint mobilization helps restore movement to the hip joint, which may become restricted due to bursitis and tendinopathy. Trigger point therapy targets knots or tight spots in the muscle that contribute to pain. Stretching and range-of-motion exercises help improve flexibility and function, reducing stiffness and discomfort over time.
How Physical Therapy Helps Keep Pain Away
Manual physical therapy is not just a one-time treatment — it works best when done regularly. By attending consistent physical therapy sessions, you can keep your hip pain under control and prevent further injury. Ongoing therapy helps prevent stiffness from returning, strengthens supporting muscles, improves posture and movement patterns, and reduces the risk of re-injury. Regular stretching and mobilization keep your joints and muscles flexible. A therapist can guide you through exercises that strengthen the gluteus medius and other hip muscles, providing better support and reducing strain on the tendon. Many people develop bad movement habits that contribute to pain. A therapist can help correct these patterns to prevent future issues. By keeping the muscles and joints healthy, you reduce the chance of suffering from the same problem again.
Physical therapy is also an essential part of post-injury rehabilitation. If you have already suffered from hip bursitis or gluteus medius tendinopathy, manual therapy can help ensure a full recovery by preventing compensatory movements that may lead to further problems. Additionally, therapists educate patients on proper body mechanics, ensuring that they perform activities in a way that minimizes strain on the hips. No matter where you are in your journey — whether you just started noticing some pain, suffered a recent injury, or have been suffering with hip pain for some time — physical therapy can help alleviate pain and manage it.
At-Home Exercises and Care
In addition to manual therapy, therapists often recommend at-home exercises and self-care routines to help maintain progress between sessions. Some simple exercises that can help strengthen and support the hip include clamshell exercises to strengthen the gluteus medius muscle, hip bridges to engage the gluteal muscles and provide stability, side-lying leg raises to strengthen the outer hip muscles, and foam rolling to help release muscle tension and improve circulation.
Stretching exercises such as hip flexor stretches, piriformis stretches, and quadriceps stretches can also help reduce tightness and improve mobility. Regularly performing these exercises can help maintain the benefits of physical therapy, ensuring long-term relief. Depending on your specific pain points, a physical therapist will create a routine for you that will best help manage YOUR pain. And, don’t worry if you fall behind on doing your homework. You can always schedule another physical therapy appointment so we can help get you back on track!
The Importance of Consistency
Healing takes time, and consistent physical therapy is key to long-term relief. Most people start to notice improvements within a few weeks of regular treatment. However, stopping therapy too soon can lead to a return of symptoms. To maintain relief, it is important to stick with your therapy routine and follow any home exercises recommended by your therapist.
Attending regular therapy appointments also allows your therapist to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. This individualized approach ensures that you receive the most effective care possible. Some individuals may require ongoing maintenance therapy to prevent recurrence, especially if they engage in activities that place strain on the hips.
Manual physical therapy is a highly effective way to manage hip bursitis pain caused by gluteus medius tendinopathy. By improving flexibility, reducing inflammation, and strengthening key muscles, it helps relieve pain and restore function. Regular therapy appointments and at-home exercises play a crucial role in keeping pain at bay and preventing future problems.
It may seem almost counterintuitive to do exercises and stretches on a limb that is causing you pain. After all, when you move in certain motions, your body throws up a warning signal to stop — which is the pain you feel. However, a trained physical therapist knows how to read these signs to work with your body. Your first couple of appointments might feel slightly uncomfortable as your body works to move in new ways. However, as you progress over time you will notice your pain getting less and less. This will allow you to return to the activities you love, pain-free!
If you are struggling with hip pain, consider consulting a physical therapist to develop a treatment plan that fits your needs. With dedication and consistency, you can regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve your overall quality of life. Schedule a FREE discovery session with our team today. One of our specially trained physical therapists will evaluate your pain, determine what is causing it, and create a personalized plan to help you overcome it.