Hip tendonitis is a common problem in athletes who overuse the tendons around the hip, causing them to become inflamed and cause symptoms such as walking pain, radiating to the leg, or difficulty in moving one or both legs.
Generally, hip tendinitis affects athletes who engage in excessive physical activity involving the legs, such as running, cycling or soccer, but may also occur in elderly patients due to progressive wear of the hip joint.
Tendonitis in the hip has healing in most cases, however, the chances of cure are greatest in young patients who undergo physical therapy.
Symptoms of tendinitis in the hip
Symptoms of tendinitis in the hip may include:
- Pain in the hip, which worsens over time;
- Pain in the hip, which radiates to the leg;
- Difficulty in moving the legs;
- Leg cramps, especially after long periods of rest;
- Difficulty walking, sitting or lying on the affected side.
The patient with symptoms of tendinitis in the hip should consult a physiotherapist or orthopedist to do a physical examination, diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment.
How to treat tendinitis in the hip
Treatment for tendonitis in the hip should be guided by a physiotherapist, but can usually be started at home with rest and application of a bag of ice water for 20 minutes, until the day of the consultation with the doctor.
Following consultation, and depending on the cause of tendonitis in the hip, it may be recommended to take anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen, and do physiotherapy for tendinitis in the hip, which includes a set of exercises that help relieve pressure on the tendons, the pain.
In more severe cases, treatment for tendonitis in the hip may include surgery to remove tendon injuries or to replace the hip joint, especially in the case of elderly patients.
Exercises for tendinitis in the hip
Exercising for tendinitis in the hip helps to warm up the tendons and, therefore, relieve the pain. However, they should be avoided if they are causing severe pain to the patient.
Exercise 1: Swing your legs
Stand next to a wall, holding the wall with the nearest arm. Then lift the leg slightly farther from the wall and swing it 10 times back and forth, lifting the leg as far as it will go. Return to starting position and repeat the exercise by swinging your leg from side to side in front of the leg that is resting on the floor. Finish the exercise by repeating the steps with the other leg.
Exercise 2: Hip Stretching
Lie on your belly up and bend your right knee toward your chest. With the left hand, pull the right knee to the left side of the body, holding the position shown in figure 2 for 20 seconds. Then return to the starting position and repeat the exercise with the left knee.
