What causes gluteal tendinopathy?
Tendon pain at the side of the hip rarely has one tidy explanation. This page lays out the causes a published source names so you can compare them with your own routine.
The short answer: overuse or underuse
Cleveland Clinic says gluteal tendinopathy can occur from tendon overuse or underuse. Both ends of the activity range are on the list.
The causes it names
Cleveland Clinic lists these potential causes.
- Putting too much force on your tendons during physical activities (overuse).
- Tendon compression due to a fall or another type of accident.
- Excess pressure on the tendons from weight gain or obesity.
- Inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle (underuse).
How to use the list
Read the four items against your last few months. Ask whether your load went up sharply, whether a fall happened, or whether you were sitting more than usual. Readers in Elmwood Park with a desk job and a weekend running habit may see both ends of the list at once.
For related reading, a page on trochanteric bursitis, a guide to bursitis and a page on hip pain in adults cover conditions that share the same area.
The standard: find the cause before the fix
Before you resume running or lifting, name which cause fits you. Bring your answer to your clinician.