Hip Bursitis

What is hip bursitis?

This painful condition typically occurs when the tiny, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles of the hip joints become inflamed from frequent, repetitive motion. It can affect other joints such as the knee, heel and even the base of your big toe.

What are the symptoms?

If an individual has bursitis, the affected joint may display the following symptoms:

• Aching and stiffness
• Pain when pressure is applied in that area or when it is moved
• It appears swollen and red

The best course of treatment typically involves resting the affected joint and protecting it from additional trauma.

However, if a person experiences the following symptoms, it is recommended that they consult a doctor:

• Disabling joint pain
• Sudden inability to move a joint
• Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area
• Sharp or shooting pain during exercise
• A fever

How to prevent hip bursitis

Flare-ups of bursitis are pretty standard, and they are sometimes not preventable, but the severity of the flare-ups can be managed with these lifestyle changes:

• Lift objects with the knees to prevent putting extra stress on the bursae in the hips
• Take frequent breaks when doing repetitive tasks or activities that put a strain on the area
• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on the joints
• Exercise to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint
• Warm up and stretch before doing strenuous activities