Have you experienced pain on the outside of your hip? Up to 25% of people report an episode of hip pain that impacts daily activities, exercise, and even sleep! Sometimes the pain resolves quickly, and sometimes it doesn’t. When patients finally see a physician, they are often diagnosed with greater trochanteric bursitis (inflammation of a fluid filled sac on the outer hip) and physicians often recommend corticosteroid injections into the bursa to help decrease the inflammation, therefore resolving the pain.

NEW RESEARCH just released in the Journal of Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy shows that dry needling can be just as effective in treating the pain in your hip. Researchers believe that injury to the surrounding muscles and tendons in your hip may contribute to the hip pain and that inflammation may not even be a factor! Corticosteroid injections may help reduce inflammation but also weaken the surrounding tissue when given in high doses. On the other hand, dry needling does not weaken the tissue and has been shown to help improve muscle activation by improving the quality of the muscle tissue. In many states (including Georgia!) you can see a Physical Therapist without a referral from your physician. Many Physical Therapists are trained in dry needling, including ALL of the Physical Therapists at One-on-One Physical Therapy!

The next time you experience lateral hip pain, consider contacting your Physical Therapist. Taking this step may save you time and money. Your Physical Therapist will perform a thorough evaluation and determine if dry needling would help resolve that hip pain. Want to learn more about dry needling and its benefits? Click HERE.

Written by: Megan Hixson, PT, DPT, CSCS, Physical Therapist at One on One Physical Therapy