Why Your ‘Hip Bursitis’ Isn’t Going Away: The Truth About Gluteal Tendinopathy

If you’ve been told you have hip bursitis but your outer hip pain keeps coming back, you’re not alone. Many cases diagnosed as bursitis are actually gluteal tendinopathy — a condition involving irritation and overload of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons.

At PhysioFit of NC, we frequently see patients frustrated because rest, stretching, anti-inflammatories, or even injections haven’t solved the problem long term.

Here’s why.

It’s Often Not Just Inflammation

True bursitis involves inflammation of a fluid-filled sac. While the bursa can become irritated, research and clinical experience show that the primary driver of persistent outer hip pain is often the tendon attachment at the greater trochanter.

Tendons don’t behave like inflamed tissue — they behave like load-sensitive tissue.

If the tendon has been overloaded:

• Too much walking or hills
• Weak hip stabilizers
• Repetitive single-leg stress
• Poor pelvic control

Rest may calm it temporarily, but without rebuilding tendon capacity, pain returns once activity resumes.

Why Injections Don’t Always Fix It

Cortisone injections can reduce irritation short term. But they don’t:

• Improve tendon strength
• Correct pelvic control
• Restore load tolerance

Without progressive strengthening, symptoms often return weeks or months later.

The Solution: Progressive Tendon Loading

At PhysioFit of NC, our Gluteal Tendinopathy Program focuses on:

 Reducing tendon irritability
 Rebuilding strength gradually
 Restoring pelvic stability
 Progressing toward real-life demands

And every session is 1-on-1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — no techs, no rushed appointments.

If your “hip bursitis” isn’t going away, it may be time to treat the tendon — not just the symptoms.

Explore our Gluteal Tendinopathy Program and start rebuilding hip strength today.

Find out how our doctor-led Gluteal Tendinopathy Program can help you move pain-free again.