The gluteus maximus attaches to this long tendon. It is unclear what causes this tightening of the tendon. An inflamed bursa can cause pain because movement makes the structures around the bursa rub against it.įriction can build in the bursa during walking if the long tendon on the side of the thigh is tight. Sometimes a bursa can become inflamed (swollen and irritated) because of too much friction or because of an injury to the bursa. Related Document: A Patient’s Guide to Hip Anatomy Causes The body will even produce a bursa in response to friction.
A bursa is a thin sac of tissue that contains fluid to lubricate the area and reduce friction. Where friction occurs between muscles, tendons, and bones, there is usually a structure called a bursa. The gluteus maximus is the largest of these muscles. This bump is the point where the large buttock muscles that move the hip connect to the femur. The greater trochanter is the large bump on the outside of the upper end of the femur. Thick muscles of the buttock at the back and the thick muscles of the thigh in the front surround the hip. The hip socket is called the acetabulum and forms a deep cup that surrounds the ball of the upper thigh bone ( femur), or femoral head. The hip joint is one of the true ball-and-socket joints of the body. Where is the trochanteric bursa, and what does it do?
It may also occur in younger patients who are extremely active in exercises such as walking, running, or biking. This problem is common in older individuals. Inflammation in the bursa between the tendon and the greater trochanter is called trochanteric bursitis. The bony bump is called the greater trochanter. Here a large tendon passes over the bony bump on the side of the hip. A common spot for bursitis is on the side of the hip.