This article is part of our Hip Pain series at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield, NJ. For the complete overview, see the full guide:
→ Hip Pain Treatment in Springfield, NJ — The Complete Guide
This post is part of our complete guide to Hip Pain. Browse the guide for more in-depth information on treatments, exercises, and recovery strategies.
Treatment For Gluteal Tendinopathy in New Jersey
In this article, we will be discussing a number one cause of why you have lateral hip pain. The main reason is actually gluteal tendinopathy. About one third of our lower back pain patients have gluteal tendinopathy. The condition has become so common that it is more commonly known as “rotator cuff tears of the hip.” It actually shares a similar etiology that most tears of both the rotator cuff and the gluteus medius tendon occur on the under surface, hence the name.
The gluteus medius tendon comes off of the iliac crest and runs down onto the greater trochanter, which is important to remember. Tears begin on the under surface which lets us know that the etiology is not tension; it is compression.
Let’s compare this to a rubber tube. If you look at a piece of rubber tubing when it’s straight, you’ll see that the tube has around the same pressure on both sides. If you bend it at the top of the humerus or over the top of the greater trochanter, there becomes a lot of tension on the top side. This means that there is a lot of compression on the underside where the buckle begins.
Did you know that almost all tears of these tendons begin on the underside. This tells us that compression is the culprit of lateral hip pain; It’s chronic compression.
We have some great news for you. There are three tests with high sensitivity and specificity to help identify chronic compression: the hip lag sign, the 30 second single stance, and the external D rotation test. Both of these have greater than 90 percent sensitivity and specificity!
The treatment reduces compression in the area and reduces faulty mechanics so that the patient is no longer doing the things that aggravate it. These include weakness of the hip abductors, running improperly, and sitting and standing improperly. To progressively rehab, there must be a strategic plan because we do not want to do things that cause increased compression. These would be things like letting the patient’s legs aduct together.
If you have any questions on our treatment options in Springfield, please contact us, we would be happy to help you and see what we can do for you.
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Dr. David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP is the founder and practice overseer at Back and Body Pain Relief in Springfield, NJ. A graduate of Life University Summa Cum Laude, Dr. Perna holds certifications in Active Release Technique (ART), Graston, SFMA, Neuro-Diagnostics (NCV/EMG), and Manipulation Under Anesthesia, among others. He is a Board Certified Sports Physician, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Volunteer.
A competing athlete himself — a 2x Ironman 70.3 finisher with a background in Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, and martial arts – Dr. Perna brings firsthand athletic experience to his patient care.
He has treated presidents, royalty, diplomats, and professional athletes across MMA, baseball, tennis, and football, and has appeared on Dr. Oz demonstrating chiropractic therapies. His approach is diagnostic-first, combining evidence-based chiropractic care with rehabilitation to help patients get out of pain and back to full function.