A guide to lateral hip pain, gluteal tendon disease, bursae, imaging and image-guided treatment.
Key message: Lateral hip pain is often labelled “bursitis”, but the underlying problem may be gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy, a partial tear, hip arthritis, spinal referral or several problems at once.
What is greater trochanteric pain syndrome?
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) describes pain over the outer hip. Gluteal tendinopathy is a common driver, and bursitis may occur with or without tendon disease. Pain may be worse lying on the affected side, climbing stairs, walking hills or standing on one leg.
Can PRP help gluteal tendinopathy?
Chronic gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy has direct Level I trial evidence. In an Australian double-blind randomised trial, a single ultrasound-guided leukocyte-rich PRP injection produced greater improvement than corticosteroid at 12 and 24 weeks, and the PRP group maintained improvement to 2 years. Importantly, the trial excluded full-thickness tears and hip osteoarthritis. Separate high-quality evidence also shows that education and progressive loading are effective for gluteal tendinopathy, so PRP should sit inside—not replace—a structured rehabilitation strategy. [13,14]
Why diagnosis is especially important at the lateral hip
Hip OA can refer pain laterally, lumbar nerve pain can mimic tendon pain, and tenderness over the trochanter does not prove that the bursa is the only problem. MRI and ultrasound can identify tendon degeneration, partial tearing, bursitis and other competing pathology.
How is PRP targeted?
Ultrasound guidance is well suited to visualising the gluteal tendons and surrounding bursa in real time. The treatment target should be chosen from the imaging and examination, not assumed from the symptom label “trochanteric bursitis”.
What should I expect after?
Side-lying on the treated hip, long walks, hills and heavy abductor loading may be uncomfortable initially. Rehabilitation progresses from symptom control and gentle movement to hip-abductor strength, pelvic control and return to walking or sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gluteal tendinopathy the same as bursitis?
No. They can coexist, but many people labelled with “bursitis” have important gluteal tendon pathology.
Can hip arthritis cause outer-hip pain?
Yes. That is why the joint and the tendons should both be considered before treatment.
Will one injection fix the weakness?
No. PRP does not replace strengthening. Tendon capacity and hip control usually need progressive rehabilitation.
Important: New inability to bear weight, major trauma, fever, rapidly progressive weakness or neurological symptoms require medical assessment.
Related MBR Health resources
Related Patient Guides
Explore the complete MBR Health condition-specific PRP patient-guide series:
- PG8000 – PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis
- PG8001 – PRP for Hip Osteoarthritis
- PG8002 – PRP for Shoulder Tendon and Rotator Cuff Problems
- PG8003 – PRP for Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
- PG8004 – PRP for Achilles Tendinopathy
- PG8005 – PRP for Plantar Fasciitis
- PG8006 – PRP for Gluteal Tendinopathy and Greater Trochanteric Pain (this guide)
- PG8007 – PRP for Hamstring, Adductor and Tendon Injuries
- PG8008 – PRP for Ligament Injuries
- PG8009 – PRP for Meniscus and Cartilage-Related Knee Pain
- PG8010 – PRP for Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- PG8011 – PRP for Facet Joint Pain
- PG8012 – PRP for Disc-Related Back Pain
- PG8013 – PRP for Neck Pain and Cervical Spine Conditions
- PG8014 – PRP for Foot and Ankle Pain
For other FAQs, please visit the MBR Health FAQs page.
References
[13] Fitzpatrick J, Bulsara MK, O’Donnell J, Zheng MH. Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment of Gluteus Medius and Minimus Tendinopathy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial With 2-Year Follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(5):1130-1137.
[14] Mellor R, Bennell K, Grimaldi A, et al. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2018;361:k1662. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1662.
Looking for the Best Gluteal Tendinopathy or Lateral Hip Pain Treatment on the Gold Coast?
For patients searching for an expert gluteal tendon or greater trochanteric pain clinic on the Gold Coast—and those travelling from Brisbane—the most important step is separating tendon disease from hip-joint arthritis, bursal irritation and spinal referral. MBR Health combines specialist MRI and advanced ultrasound with precision image-guided treatment so the target is defined before PRP is considered.
General information only. PRP suitability, medication changes, dosing, procedure choice and rehabilitation require individual clinical assessment. Evidence and regulatory requirements continue to evolve.
