Health Blog

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is an extremely common, yet often misunderstood condition that limits mobility for millions of people around the world. GTPS, which causes persistent pain on the outside of the hip, is responsible for about 10–20% of all cases of hip pain that patients seek help for (often be consulting their primary care provider). It predominantly affects women over the age 50, with statistics suggesting that 1 in 4 women in this age group will experience GTPS at some point in their lives.

But instead of focusing on the problem, let's talk about the solution! If you're ready to silence your hip pain and reclaim an active life, physical therapy may be the best way to get you there. Research consistently shows that physical therapy is effective for addressing hip symptoms caused by GTPS, including a recent study that highlights its benefits. Let's take a closer look.

What is GTPS?

GTPS is essentially an irritation of the muscles and tendons on the side of your hip surrounding the greater trochanter, which is a bony prominence on the femur (thigh bone). This area serves as the “staging ground” for the muscles that stabilize the hip during movement. When these structures become overloaded or damaged–often from factors like age, obesity, or detoured biomechanics–pain and discomfort occur. Here's what GTPS usually feels like:

• Pain when you press on the bony bump on the side of your hip or when lying on the bad side


• Discomfort that intensifies during activities like climbing stairs


• Pain when you put weight on your leg, like during walking or standing

Common triggers include prolonged sitting, stair climbing, and high-intensity workouts, and the two most common causes of GTPS are gluteal tendinopathy and partial tears of the gluteal tendons. Sometimes pain radiates down the side of the leg as well, which can make walking and other movements with the legs challenging. But recognizing these types of symptoms can help healthcare providers like physical therapists to develop targeted recovery plans.

Study shows how physical therapy benefits patients with GTPS

To illustrate how physical therapy can address these symptoms, we're going to review the findings of a study called the LEAP Trial that was recently featured in a British Journal of Sports Medicine blog. Researchers in Australia conducted the study to compare the effectiveness of physical therapy to steroid injections and a “wait and see” approach for GTPS. Here's a breakdown of how the study was conducted:

• Participants: the study involved a diverse group of 204 patients aged 35–70 who had been experiencing pain on the side of their hip for at least 3 months


• Intervention strategies: participants were divided into the following 3 groups:
  
  
  
  • Group 1 received education about managing stress on their tendons and completed a personalized exercise program consisting of 14 treatment sessions over 8 weeks that focused on strengthening and stabilizing the hip muscles
  
  
  • Group 2 was given a single corticosteroid injection
  
  
  • Group 3 (the control group) followed a “wait–and–see” approach, which did not involve any specific interventions
  
  
  
  


• Evaluation methods: researchers assessed pain levels, function, and mobility through various outcome measures at 8 weeks and 52 weeks after these interventions

Key findings

1. At 8 weeks, patients in Group 1 reported greater overall improvements and less pain intensity than patients in Groups 2 and 3
   
   
   
   • 77% of Group 1 patients reported being at least “moderately better” at this time, compared to 58% of Group 2 and 29% of Group 3
   
   
   
   


2. At 52 weeks, Group 1 reported greater overall improvements than Groups 2 and 3, and less pain intensity than Group 3; there was no significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 in pain intensity at this time, but this still suggests that the education and exercise intervention had lasting benefits
   
   
   
   • 78% of Group 1 patients were at least “moderately better” at this time, compared to 57% of Group 2 and 52% of Group 3
   
   
   
   


3. Patients in Group 1 also demonstrated significant increases in hip abduction strength and improved stability during walking–factors that directly contribute to reduced pain and enhanced daily function

Why this matters for you

These findings provide strong evidence that physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for GTPS, since it typically approaches this condition with both education and exercises similar to those used in this study. Early engagement with physical therapy is also essential for minimizing long–term complications associated with GTPS, as leaving it untreated can lead to symptoms becoming chronic and significantly impacting one's mobility and quality of life. A skilled physical therapist can guide you through exercises designed to:

• Strengthen the muscles surrounding your hip


• Improve your movement patterns


• Reduce the stress on your irritated tendons

As well as personalized advice on how to:

• Optimize your sleeping positions


• Modify daily activities to minimize pain

Take control of your hip health now

Don't let hip pain dictate your life. The research is clear: physical therapy offers a path to recovery and a return to the activities you enjoy. Contact our clinic today to discover how we can help you overcome hip pain and get you back to living life to the fullest! Or if you're interested in delving deeper into the details of the LEAP trial, you can read the blog here.