Hip Bursitis & Hip Tendinopathy Treatment in Eatontown, NJ

Does This Sound Like Your Hip Pain?

Pain on the outside of the hip follows a recognizable pattern. Most people recognize several of these:

• Pain on the outside of the hip that may spread down the side of the thigh
• Pain lying on that side at night, and sometimes on the other side too
• Pain climbing stairs, getting out of the car, or standing up from a chair
• Tenderness when you press on the bony point on the side of the hip
• Pain that has lasted for months despite rest, stretching, or an injection

If that last point describes you, you’re the kind of patient shockwave therapy is most often used for.

Hip Bursitis or Tendinopathy?

Pain on the outside of the hip has traditionally been called hip bursitis, or trochanteric bursitis. Imaging studies have since shown that the main source of pain is usually the gluteal tendons, which attach to the bony point on the side of the hip. The bursa, a small fluid-filled cushion nearby, is often irritated as a result of the tendon problem, not the cause of it.

Because of this, many specialists now use the term greater trochanteric pain syndrome, which covers both. The distinction matters because treatment aimed only at the bursa often gives temporary relief, while the tendon problem underneath continues.

Who Tends to Develop It

• Women, especially between about 40 and 60, who are affected far more often than men
• Runners and walkers who increase mileage or hill work quickly
• People who stand for long periods with their weight shifted onto one hip
• People with weak hip muscles or low back problems
• People with recent weight gain or a change in activity level

How Shockwave Therapy Helps Chronic Hip Pain

Shockwave therapy has been studied for greater trochanteric pain syndrome and is typically considered when hip pain hasn’t improved after several months of rest, exercise, or injections.

Shockwave therapy delivers focused acoustic energy into the painful tendon attachment on the side of the hip. The goal is to restart the stalled healing process by stimulating local circulation and tissue remodeling, not simply to mask the pain.

Because it’s non-surgical and involves no injections, it gives people another option before turning to repeated cortisone shots or surgery.

Adding Class IV Laser

Class IV laser therapy can be added to your shockwave sessions. Instead of mechanical energy, it uses therapeutic light to support cellular activity and tissue recovery in the treated area. Dr. Kovacs will tell you whether adding laser makes sense for your case.

Everyday Habits That Keep It Irritated

Gluteal tendons are sensitive to being compressed against the bone. Several common habits do exactly that, which is one reason this pain can linger:

• Sitting with your legs crossed
• Standing with your weight hanging onto one hip
• Sleeping on your side with the top knee dropped across your body
• Stretching the outside of the hip hard, including aggressive IT band stretching

Small changes, like a pillow between your knees at night, can take pressure off the tendon while it heals. We’ll go over which ones matter most for you.

Your First Visit: Evaluation Comes First

Not all hip pain comes from the side of the hip. Before recommending treatment, Dr. Kovacs will:

• Review your activity, sleep position, and what you’ve already tried
• Test hip strength, motion, and single-leg stability
• Check your lower back and sacroiliac joint, since both commonly cause pain felt in the hip
• Rule out hip joint arthritis, which usually causes groin pain rather than pain on the side
• Decide whether imaging is needed before treatment begins

If shockwave therapy isn’t the right choice for you, you’ll hear that directly, along with what we’d recommend instead. We see patients from Eatontown and across Monmouth County, including Long Branch, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, and Oceanport.

What Treatment Looks Like

1. Short sessionsThe shockwave portion takes only a few minutes, with a few more added when laser is included.
2. A series, not a single visitMost patients are treated over several sessions, commonly spaced about a week apart. Your plan depends on how long you’ve had symptoms and how you respond.
3. Gradual improvementChange usually builds over weeks as the tendon responds, and it often continues after your last session.
4. Little to no downtimeMost people return to work and normal activities the same day. Some feel temporary soreness on the side of the hip afterward.
5. Strength still mattersProgressive hip-strengthening exercises help the tendon tolerate load again, and we’ll show you which ones to start with.

When Shockwave Isn’t the Right Fit

Shockwave therapy may not be appropriate if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning medication
• Have an infection, open wound, or tumor in the treatment area
• Recently had a cortisone injection in the hip
• Have a hip replacement or metal hardware in the treatment area
• Have hip pain caused by joint arthritis, a fracture, or your lower back rather than the tendon

These are reviewed during your evaluation. Some are temporary, such as a recent injection, and simply mean waiting before treatment starts.

Hip Tendinopathy & Bursitis Treatment FAQs

Related Conditions

• Plantar Fasciitis Heel pain with your first steps in the morning
• Neck, Back & Muscle Pain Trigger points and chronic muscle pain in the neck, back, and jaw
• All Conditions We Treat See every condition treated with shockwave therapy