Pain on the Outside of the Hip? Causes, Treatment & Physiotherapy | Vital Core Physiotherapy

Do you get pain when lying on your side at night? Have walks become shorter, hills more challenging or running less enjoyable because of an aching pain on the outside of your hip?

If so, you're not alone.

Around one in four women over the age of 50 will experience pain on the outside of the hip at some point, particularly women who enjoy walking, running, hiking, tennis, golf or regular exercise. We see it every week at Vital Core Physiotherapy.

The good news is that hip pain is not something you simply have to accept as part of ageing. In most cases, with the right diagnosis and treatment plan, you can return to the activities you love.

What is Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome?

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is the modern term used to describe pain on the outside of the hip. It refers to irritation of structures around the bony part of your hip that you can feel on the side of your upper thigh.

While many people are told they have "hip bursitis", the real cause is often related to the tendons and muscles that support the hip. Understanding exactly what is driving your symptoms is one of the most important steps towards recovery.

That's where a thorough physiotherapy assessment can make all the difference.

Why Does It Commonly Affect Women Over 50?

Women develop GTPS much more frequently than men.

Part of this is due to the shape of the female pelvis, but hormones also play a significant role. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, muscles and tendons can become less resilient and more sensitive to load.

This means activities that previously felt easy, such as walking longer distances, running, climbing stairs or exercising on consecutive days, can suddenly start to cause discomfort.

Many women tell us they haven't changed anything, yet their hip has become increasingly painful over time. Often the issue isn't what you're doing, but that the tissues have gradually lost some of their capacity to cope with the load being placed on them.

What Does It Feel Like?

Typically, people experience an ache or pain on the outside of the hip that may travel down the outside of the thigh. It is often aggravated by lying on the affected side at night, walking hills, climbing stairs, running or standing for long periods.

For some people, the pain only appears after activity. For others, it becomes persistent and starts to interfere with sleep, exercise and day-to-day life.

If you've started avoiding walks, cancelling exercise sessions or waking repeatedly through the night because of your hip, it's worth getting it assessed. The earlier the problem is addressed, the easier it is often to turn around.

One of the Most Common Causes: Gluteal Tendinopathy

One of the most frequent diagnoses we see at Vital Core is gluteal tendinopathy.

The gluteal tendons are responsible for helping control your pelvis and leg every time you walk, run, climb stairs or stand on one leg. When they become irritated or overloaded, they can become painful and less effective at doing their job.

This often occurs following an increase in walking, running or exercise, after a period of illness or inactivity, or simply as part of age-related changes in muscle strength and tendon health.

The encouraging news is that tendons respond extremely well to the right type of exercise. In fact, research consistently shows that progressive strengthening and load management are among the most effective treatments available.

What About Bursitis?

Many people arrive at our clinic having been told they have bursitis.

While the bursa can certainly become irritated, it is often reacting to an underlying tendon problem rather than being the primary issue itself.

This is why injections don't always provide lasting relief. They may temporarily settle symptoms, but if the underlying weakness, tendon irritation or movement dysfunction remains unchanged, the pain often returns.

Our focus is always on identifying and treating the reason the pain developed in the first place, giving you the best chance of long-term recovery rather than short-term symptom relief.

Do I Need a Scan?

In most cases, no.

Many scans show age-related changes that are completely normal and often unrelated to a person's pain. Findings such as tendon tears, bursitis or arthritic changes are frequently seen in people who have no symptoms at all.

A detailed assessment by an experienced physiotherapist will usually provide far more useful information than an early scan and can help guide the most effective treatment approach.

If we feel imaging is necessary, we'll discuss it with you.

How Physiotherapy Can Help

At Vital Core Physiotherapy, we love treating hip pain because it is often a condition that responds incredibly well to the right management.

Our goal isn't simply to reduce your pain. It's to help you get back to doing the things that matter to you, whether that's walking with friends, training for an event, playing sport, exercising confidently or finally getting a good night's sleep again.

We'll take the time to understand exactly what's contributing to your symptoms, identify any strength or movement deficits, and develop a personalised plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.

Most importantly, we'll help you build strength, confidence and resilience so you're not constantly worrying about your hip.

Don't Wait for Hip Pain to Settle on Its Own

The longer hip pain persists, the more it can affect your activity levels, fitness, sleep and overall quality of life.

If you're avoiding hills, cutting back your walks, struggling with running or waking at night because of pain on the outside of your hip, now is the time to get answers.

Our team has extensive experience helping women overcome persistent hip pain and return to the activities they love.

Book an appointment with the team at Vital Core Physiotherapy today and take the first step towards getting back to walking, running and living with confidence.

Call (08) 8331 0552 or book online today.