Persistent pain on the outside of the hip, the kind that makes lying on your side, climbing stairs, or walking any distance uncomfortable, is one of the most common hip complaints, and one of the most often misunderstood. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, our London-based specialists diagnose and treat Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) with precision, using evidence-based care to relieve pain and restore function.
Because GTPS can stem from several different causes, accurate diagnosis is everything. We tailor each treatment plan to the specific source of your pain and your personal goals, from targeted rehabilitation to advanced pain-management techniques. Explore our approach to GTPS, part of our full range of hip treatment services, and discover how we can help you regain a comfortable, active lifestyle.
Brief Overview
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome is the term used to describe chronic pain over the outer (lateral) aspect of the hip, centred on the bony point known as the greater trochanter. It is an umbrella diagnosis: rather than a single problem, GTPS covers a group of related conditions that all produce pain in the same area.
At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, our specialists use detailed clinical assessment to identify exactly which structures are responsible for your lateral hip pain. From structured rehabilitation to targeted injections, we craft personalised plans focused on relieving your pain and protecting your long-term hip health.
Key Highlights
- Expert diagnosis and treatment of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome using evidence-based techniques.
- GTPS is an umbrella term for chronic lateral hip pain, most often caused by gluteal tendinopathy, with bursitis, tendon tears, and a snapping iliotibial band also contributing.
- It is common, affecting an estimated 10-20% of people who present to primary care with hip pain, and is most frequent in women between their 40s and 60s.
- Hallmark symptoms include pain over the outer hip that worsens when lying on that side, walking, or climbing stairs.
- Most cases improve with conservative care such as load management, physiotherapy, and targeted injections, without the need for surgery.
Understanding Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
If you have persistent pain on the outside of your hip that flares when you lie on it, walk, or climb stairs, you may have Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. Understanding what this diagnosis involves is the first step towards getting the right treatment and feeling like yourself again.
The greater trochanter is the bony prominence you can feel on the side of your hip. Around it sit several structures: the gluteal tendons, fluid-filled cushioning sacs called bursae, and the iliotibial band that runs down the outside of the thigh. GTPS describes pain arising from this region, whatever its precise source. As the StatPearls clinical reference explains, GTPS is the cause of hip pain in an estimated 10-20% of patients presenting to primary care and is most common between the fourth and sixth decades of life, with a strong association with the female sex.
What Is Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome?
GTPS is a clinical diagnosis for chronic pain over the lateral hip. Crucially, it is an umbrella term that encompasses several overlapping conditions: gluteal tendinopathy (the most common cause), inflammation or irritation of the trochanteric bursae, tears of the gluteus medius or minimus tendons, and a snapping iliotibial band on the outside of the hip. Often, more than one of these factors is involved at once.
You will typically feel pain and tenderness directly over the bony point on the outside of the hip. It is frequently at its worst when you lie on the affected side, and it can be aggravated by walking, climbing stairs, prolonged standing, or sitting with your legs crossed. The pain may spread down the outside of the thigh, sometimes as far as the knee.
Because several different problems can produce the same symptoms, pinpointing the underlying cause is essential for effective treatment. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, careful clinical examination allows us to identify exactly what is driving your pain. For a detailed overview of our approach, visit our hip conditions page.
Symptoms and Causes of GTPS
Recognising the symptoms early and understanding what causes GTPS can help you get the right treatment sooner, leading to better outcomes. We emphasise early detection and a thorough understanding of your individual risk factors.
How to Recognise the Symptoms
The symptoms of GTPS can vary, but there are several common signs to look out for:
- Persistent pain and tenderness over the outer aspect of the hip, centred on the greater trochanter.
- Pain when lying on the affected side, which often disturbs sleep.
- Discomfort that worsens with walking, climbing stairs, or standing for long periods.
- Pain that radiates down the outside of the thigh, occasionally reaching the knee.
- A feeling of weakness or instability in the hip during everyday activities.
As the StatPearls reference notes, the pain is typically exacerbated by prolonged sitting, climbing stairs, high-impact activity, or lying on the affected side. Because these symptoms can mimic hip arthritis or lower back problems, consulting a specialist who can differentiate between the possible causes is essential. Our specialists prioritise precise assessment so you receive the right diagnosis without unnecessary delay.
What Causes GTPS?
GTPS can arise from a range of related causes, often in combination:
- Gluteal tendinopathy: overload or compression of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons is the most common underlying cause.
- Trochanteric bursitis: irritation of the bursae that cushion the tendons over the bony point of the hip.
- Gluteal tendon tears: partial or full-thickness tears of the gluteal tendons, more common with age.
- Snapping hip (external coxa saltans): the iliotibial band catching over the greater trochanter, causing friction and irritation.
- Contributing factors: female sex, being over 40, higher body weight, and biomechanical issues such as gait or pelvic alignment all raise the risk.
Understanding what is behind your pain helps us build a treatment plan that addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, we assess your movement, load history, and risk factors to give you the best chance of lasting relief. (If your pain is driven specifically by tendon overload, our dedicated gluteal tendinopathy treatment approach may be especially relevant.)
How GTPS Is Diagnosed
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment, and with GTPS it is particularly important, because several conditions can produce the same lateral hip pain. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, we combine a thorough clinical assessment with the right imaging tests to identify the source of your pain precisely and plan the best path forward.
Advanced Imaging and Clinical Assessment
Diagnosis begins with a detailed history and a focused physical examination. Your specialist will check for tenderness over the greater trochanter and perform specific tests, such as standing on one leg or resisted hip movements, that reproduce your pain and help identify which structures are involved.
Imaging then confirms the diagnosis and clarifies the underlying cause. As the StatPearls reference notes, the primary imaging techniques for GTPS are plain X-rays, ultrasound, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Ultrasound and MRI are especially useful for assessing the gluteal tendons and bursae, distinguishing tendinopathy from a tear, and ruling out other sources of hip pain such as arthritis.
When combined with your medical history, these techniques provide a comprehensive picture of your condition. For more information about how we investigate hip pain, visit our understanding hip pain resource.
Your Treatment Options
Choosing the right treatment is key to managing GTPS effectively. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, we tailor your treatment to the underlying cause of your pain, your symptoms, and your lifestyle goals, always prioritising the least invasive effective approach. Encouragingly, most cases of GTPS settle with conservative care.
Non-Surgical Treatments
For the great majority of people with GTPS, non-surgical treatment provides meaningful relief and a clear path to recovery. We always explore conservative options first, building a plan that fits your life.
The cornerstone of treatment is education and load management combined with a structured physiotherapy programme. This means understanding which activities and postures aggravate the hip, such as lying on the affected side or sitting with crossed legs, then modifying them and progressively strengthening the hip-stabilising muscles. Where gluteal tendinopathy is the main driver, this exercise-based approach is strongly supported by clinical research. Alongside therapy, NSAIDs can help manage pain, and weight management is valuable where relevant.
A review of GTPS evaluation and management confirms that most cases are self-limiting and respond well to conservative measures such as physical therapy, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory medication. A comprehensive evaluation by our team determines the right combination of treatments for you, ensuring a personalised plan aligned with your goals.
Injections and Advanced Pain Management
When pain is severe or slow to settle, targeted injections can provide valuable relief. A corticosteroid injection, often guided by ultrasound for accuracy, can ease pain and help you engage more fully in your rehabilitation programme. For some patients, other injectable options such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be considered to support tendon healing.
Surgery is rarely required for GTPS and is reserved for the small number of cases that do not respond to a thorough course of conservative treatment, for example where there is a significant gluteal tendon tear. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, our specialists will discuss whether any further intervention is appropriate, always recommending the most effective option that carries the least risk for you.
Your Recovery and Next Steps
Recovering from GTPS is a journey, and we are here to support you at every stage. At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, we believe that informed, empowered patients achieve the best outcomes, and with this condition, learning how to manage load on the hip is central to lasting relief.
Because GTPS often involves the tendons, recovery is gradual and measured in weeks and months. Your programme will progress carefully, from settling the most provocative activities through to rebuilding strength and returning to the things you enjoy. Our physiotherapy team works closely with your specialist to keep your recovery on track and to help you avoid the habits that aggravate the hip.
We schedule regular follow-ups to assess your progress, refine your treatment plan, and ensure you are getting the results you need. Whether you are self-funding your treatment or using private medical insurance, our team provides transparent guidance throughout. We work with all major insurers and offer clear pricing for self-pay patients. For additional trusted information, the NHS guide to greater trochanteric pain syndrome and the Physiopedia clinical reference are excellent resources to read alongside specialist advice.
Ready to Take the First Step?
At Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners, we prioritise your journey to recovery, offering tailored treatment that aligns with your specific needs and lifestyle. Through targeted rehabilitation, advanced pain management, and the latest clinical evidence, we are committed to relieving your pain and restoring your mobility.
Our expert team is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive care. Contact us today to learn how we can support your recovery from Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome and take the first step towards a pain-free, active life. Visit gop.health to book a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome?
GTPS is an umbrella term for chronic pain over the outer (lateral) aspect of the hip, centred on the bony point called the greater trochanter. It is most often caused by gluteal tendinopathy, but can also involve trochanteric bursitis, gluteal tendon tears, or a snapping iliotibial band, sometimes in combination.
What are the common symptoms of GTPS?
The hallmark symptom is pain over the outside of the hip that is often worst when lying on that side, and that worsens with walking, climbing stairs, or standing for long periods. The pain can radiate down the outer thigh and may cause a feeling of weakness in the hip. Disturbed sleep from side-lying pain is particularly common.
How is GTPS diagnosed?
Diagnosis combines a focused clinical examination, including tests that reproduce the pain, with imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or X-ray to identify the underlying cause and rule out other hip problems. Identifying the precise source of pain is essential because GTPS has several possible causes. Learn more on our hip care page.
What treatment options are available at Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners?
Most cases respond to conservative care: education and load management, structured physiotherapy, NSAIDs, and where helpful, targeted corticosteroid or PRP injections. Surgery is rarely needed and is reserved for cases that do not respond to thorough conservative treatment. Every plan is personalised to the cause of your pain.
Why choose Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners for GTPS treatment?
Because GTPS has several possible causes, accurate diagnosis is critical, and that is where our London-based specialists excel. We combine advanced imaging with evidence-based, largely non-surgical care and personalised treatment plans to relieve your pain and restore your mobility. Visit gop.health to book a consultation.
