Hip Bursitis (Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome) Physiotherapy in Johor
For decades, pain on the outside of the hip was labelled "trochanteric bursitis" and treated with rest and cortisone.
The evidence has moved on.
In most cases, the real problem is a gluteal tendinopathy - degeneration of the glute medius and minimus tendons where they attach to the outer hip - with the bursa inflamed as a secondary reaction.
The new umbrella term is greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), and the treatment priority is loading, not injecting.
Who gets it in Johor
GTPS is most common in women aged 40–60, particularly during and after menopause, and in long-distance runners of both sexes.
We also see it often in Johor's older population who have been told "it's just arthritis" for years when it's actually this.
A lot of ward nurses at HSA and KPJ Johor show up with this pattern - long shifts on their feet, standing with weight dumped onto one hip.
How rehab changes things
The LEAP trial (2018) showed education plus progressive loading beat cortisone at 12 months - the steroid group felt better at 8 weeks, but was measurably worse a year later.
The programme is unglamorous: hip abductor isometrics first, progressing to standing abduction, side-lying leg raises in neutral (not cross-over), and eventually single-leg stance work.
We also coach out the habits that compress the tendon: sitting cross-legged, standing hip-popped, sleeping directly on the sore side.
Cost and timeline
RM120-250 per session. Expect 8–12 sessions over 12–16 weeks. Shockwave can be added for resistant cases from week 4 onward.
If a steroid injection has already been given, we wait 2–3 weeks before starting loading.
Is it right for you?
- Pain pinpointed to the bony bump on the outer hip.
- Worst lying on that side at night - patients often sleep with a pillow between the knees and still wake up.
- Climbing stairs, getting out of a car, and crossing legs all aggravate.
- Radiates down the outer thigh but not past the knee (past the knee → think back or nerve).
Johor context
Beyond nurses and runners, we see a lot of Singaporean grandmothers who moved to JB to help with grandchildren - long days lifting children, standing at kitchen counters, and sleeping on unfamiliar mattresses.
The sleep-related pain is often the tipping point that brings them in.
How PhysioJohor matches you
WhatsApp us: which side, whether it wakes you at night, how long you've had it, and whether you've tried an injection already.