Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Gluteal Tendinopathy)
Quick summary
GTPS causes outer hip pain when lying on your side. Ultrasound-guided injection plus targeted rehab — Oxford Injection Clinic.
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common cause of lateral hip pain in adults, particularly women aged 40–60. The primary problem is degenerative change and small tears in the gluteus medius and minimus tendons, often with secondary bursitis.
Key takeaways
- GTPS causes outer hip pain when lying on your side. Ultrasound-guided injection plus targeted rehab — Oxford Injection Clinic.
- Diagnosed with in-clinic ultrasound alongside clinical examination.
- Treated with a stepped, evidence-based plan — not one-size-fits-all injections.
- Self-referral available — no GP letter required.
Symptoms
- Pain over the outer hip, sometimes radiating down the thigh
- Worse lying on the affected side at night
- Painful going up stairs or standing after prolonged sitting
- Tenderness on pressing the bony point of the hip
Causes & risk factors
- Age-related gluteal tendon degeneration
- Increased hip adduction load — running, sit-with-crossed-legs, single-leg standing
- Rapid changes in walking or running load
- Post-menopausal changes in tendon biology
Who is most at risk
- Women over 40
- Rapid increase in walking or running load
- Leg-length discrepancy or hip osteoarthritis
Differential diagnosis
Conditions that can mimic Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.
- Trochanteric bursitis (frequently coexists)
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Iliotibial band syndrome
How we diagnose Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Clinical tests reproduce lateral hip pain with resisted abduction and single-leg stance. Diagnostic ultrasound grades gluteal tendon change, identifies tears and assesses the peritrochanteric bursae to guide treatment.
Treatment options
Load management and gluteal rehab
Evidence-based first-line treatment — reduces provocative postures and progressively strengthens the gluteal tendons.
Ultrasound-guided injection
Precisely placed peritrochanteric steroid or PRP when rehab plateaus, chosen based on tendon findings on ultrasound.
Shockwave therapy
A useful adjunct for tendinopathy that is not responding to rehab alone.
What we look for on ultrasound
Thickening and hypoechogenicity of gluteus medius and minimus tendon insertions, partial-thickness tears, hyperaemia on Doppler, and fluid in the sub-gluteus medius or trochanteric bursae.
When to seek help
Book if lateral hip pain is waking you at night, limiting walking or preventing exercise despite simple analgesia and 4–6 weeks of rehab.
Recovery timeline
Typical timeframes after diagnosis and treatment. Individual recovery varies — your clinician will personalise this plan.
- 1Week 0–2Post-injection
Rapid relief; avoid lying on the affected side.
- 2Week 2–8Progressive loading
Hip abductor loading — the mainstay of durable recovery.
- 3Month 3+Return to running
Return with graded mileage.
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Related conditions we treat
Explore other musculoskeletal conditions assessed and treated at the clinic.
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Hip Osteoarthritis
- Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia)
- Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylalgia)
- Trigger Finger
- Thumb Base (CMC) Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
Related symptom guides
Patient-friendly guides that describe how hip problems typically present.
- Pain on the Outside of the Hip — Causes & TreatmentPain over the outer hip, worse lying on that side, is usually gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis. Learn how it's diagnosed and treated.
- Burning Pain on the Outer Thigh — Causes & ReliefBurning or tingling on the outer thigh often points to meralgia paresthetica (a trapped nerve) or greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Learn how each is diagnosed and treated.
- Groin Pain from the Hip — Causes & TreatmentDeep groin pain aggravated by walking, twisting or getting into a car often reflects hip joint pathology — arthritis, labral tears or impingement. Learn how each is diagnosed and treated.
Related treatments
Ultrasound-guided procedures we use to treat musculoskeletal conditions.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome assessment & treatment across Oxfordshire
We treat greater trochanteric pain syndrome patients from across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. Two hours of free parking is available directly at the clinic in Botley, OX2.
How we make treatment decisions
Every recommendation at Oxford Injection Clinic is shaped by current UK guidance — including NICE recommendations for musculoskeletal pain, published NHS guidance on injection therapy, and peer-reviewed evidence from British and international MSK medicine journals. We follow a stepped-care model: accurate diagnosis first (clinical examination and diagnostic ultrasound), conservative measures where appropriate, and image-guided injection or referral only when clinically indicated. Consultant physiotherapist Bob Chandran reviews the latest MSK literature and updates our clinical protocols routinely.
Further reading
Recognised UK and international clinical guidance relevant to Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.
Frequently asked questions
Should I have a steroid injection or PRP?
It depends on the tendon findings. Steroid gives fast pain relief when bursitis is prominent; PRP is preferred where there is significant tendon disease and we want to encourage healing rather than dampen it.
Will strengthening really help?
Yes — high-quality trials show gluteal load-management programmes match or exceed injection alone at 12 months. Injection accelerates rehab in resistant cases.
Book a consultation for greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Consultant physiotherapist Bob Chandran (Boobala Chandran Subramanian) leads every clinic. Self-refer today.
Getting here
Easy to reach — and easy to park
We're in Elms Parade, Botley, just a few minutes from Oxford city centre with excellent transport links.
Free parking
2 hours free, right outside
Park directly in front of the clinic in the Elms Parade car park — 2 hours free for patients, no app or ticket needed for short visits.
From Oxford Railway Station
Approx. 1.5 miles (8 min by taxi, 20 min walk). Head west on Botley Road, continue straight across the A34 flyover into Westway, then turn right into Elms Parade.
Nearest bus stop
Elms Parade (Stop B1) — directly outside the clinic. Served by routes 4, 4A, 4B and 4C from Oxford city centre (every 10–15 min).
By car
Junction 8/9 of the A34, exit toward Botley. Postcode OX2 9LG for sat-nav.
Expert MSK care in Oxford
Oxford Injection Clinic is the specialist musculoskeletal service of GB Clinic Oxford, an independent physiotherapy and interventional MSK clinic based in Botley. Our consultants and advanced practitioners assess, scan and treat the full spectrum of joint, tendon, ligament and nerve problems — from acute sports injuries to long-standing arthritis. Every clinician is HCPC-registered and holds post-graduate qualifications in diagnostic ultrasound, injection therapy or advanced musculoskeletal practice.
We believe the fastest route to recovery is an accurate diagnosis on day one. That is why every consultation includes a full history, a hands-on clinical examination and, where useful, a real-time high-resolution ultrasound scan. If an ultrasound-guided injection is likely to help, we can usually perform it in the same visit — no separate trips, no waiting weeks for imaging.
Evidence-based, patient-led
Not everyone needs an injection. Our clinicians follow NICE, BOA and international best-practice guidance to decide when injections, shockwave therapy, hydrodilatation, barbotage or a structured loading programme is the right next step. Where surgery is genuinely the best option we say so, and we can refer to trusted orthopaedic and pain specialists across Oxford, London and the Thames Valley.
Patients travel to see us from Botley, Summertown, Headington, Cowley, Iffley, Abingdon, Witney, Kidlington, Bicester, Didcot, Wallingford, Wantage, Wheatley, Thame, Woodstock, Chipping Norton, Banbury, Henley-on-Thames and Reading. Same-day appointments, evening slots and Saturday clinics are usually available, and free on-street parking is right outside the clinic.