Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common cause of lateral hip pain, seen more commonly in females between the ages of 40 and 60.1,2 GTPS is the cause of hip pain in 10–20% of patients presenting with hip pain to primary care, with an incidence of 1.8 patients per 1000 per year.1–3
Traditionally thought to be due to trochanteric bursitis, surgical, histological, and imaging studies have shown that GTPS is attributable to tendinopathy of the gluteus medius and/or minimus with or without coexisting bursal pathology.1,4,5 Abnormal hip biomechanics are hypothesised to predispose to the development of these gluteal tendinopathies. Compressive forces cause impingement of the gluteal tendons and bursa onto the greater trochanter by the iliotibial band (ITB) as the hip moves into adduction. Compressive forces are increased where there is weakness of the hip abductor muscles due to lateral pelvic tilt.6