Dry Needling for Hip Bursitis: Does It Work?
If you’re dealing with sharp, persistent hip pain, you might be looking for effective treatments like dry needling for hip bursitis. This common condition, characterized by inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your hip joint, can make simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even sleeping feel unbearable. While rest and traditional therapies are often recommended, many active individuals are seeking faster, more targeted relief to get back to their lives.
Hip bursitis can be frustrating, especially for runners, athletes, and anyone who loves to stay active. The pain often radiates from the point of your hip down the outer thigh, getting worse with prolonged activity or direct pressure. When this discomfort starts holding you back, it’s time to explore powerful treatment options that address the root cause of the problem.
At Empower U, with locations in Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha, NE, and Austin, TX, our performance physical therapists specialize in helping people overcome injuries and enhance their physical capabilities. We understand the drive to live an active, pain-free life. This guide will explain how dry needling for hip bursitis can be a game-changing part of your recovery plan, helping you find lasting relief and return to the activities you love.
What is Hip Bursitis?
Before we explore the treatment, let’s understand the condition. Hip bursitis, also known as trochanteric bursitis, occurs when the bursa on the outer point of your hip (the greater trochanter) becomes inflamed. Bursae are small, jelly-like sacs located throughout your body, including around your shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. They contain a small amount of fluid and act as cushions between bones and soft tissues, helping to reduce friction.
When a bursa becomes irritated, it produces excess fluid, causing it to swell and put pressure on surrounding tissues. This leads to the characteristic pain of bursitis.
Common Causes and Symptoms of Hip Bursitis
Several factors can contribute to the development of hip bursitis:
- Repetitive Stress or Overuse: Activities that involve repetitive hip movements, like running, cycling, or climbing stairs for long periods, can irritate the bursa.
- Hip Injury: A direct blow to the hip from a fall or accident can cause the bursa to become inflamed.
- Poor Posture or Biomechanics: An incorrect gait, differences in leg length, or muscle imbalances can place extra stress on the hip joint.
- Underlying Conditions: Medical issues like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or spine problems can also contribute to hip inflammation.
The primary symptom is pain at the point of the hip, which typically extends down the outer thigh. The pain might be sharp and intense at first, later becoming a dull ache. It often worsens:
- At night, especially when lying on the affected side.
- After sitting for a long time and then standing up.
- When walking up stairs or hills.
- With prolonged walking or exercise.
What is Dry Needling and How Can It Help?
When you’re dealing with the stubborn pain of hip bursitis, finding an effective treatment is a top priority. Dry needling is a modern, evidence-based technique used by our skilled physical therapists at Empower U to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. It involves inserting thin, sterile filiform needles into trigger points—tight, knotted bands of muscle—that contribute to pain and dysfunction.
While it might sound similar to acupuncture, dry needling is based on Western neuroanatomy and modern scientific principles. The goal is to release muscle tension, reduce pain, and improve your range of motion. By targeting the dysfunctional muscles around your hip, dry needling addresses one of the core issues contributing to bursitis.
The Role of Dry Needling for Hip Bursitis
So, how does dry needling for hip bursitis actually work? The muscles surrounding your hip, particularly the gluteal muscles, can develop trigger points due to overuse, injury, or poor biomechanics. These trigger points can cause referred pain and place abnormal tension on the tendons that attach near the bursa, leading to irritation and inflammation.
Here’s how dry needling helps:
- Releases Trigger Points: Inserting a needle into a trigger point elicits a “local twitch response,” which is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. This response helps release the knot, relaxing the muscle and reducing its tightness.
- Reduces Pain: The twitch response and the needle itself stimulate nerve fibers, which can block pain signals from reaching the brain. It also triggers the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
- Improves Blood Flow: The process increases blood circulation to the area, bringing oxygen and nutrients that promote healing and flush out inflammatory substances.
- Restores Normal Muscle Function: By releasing tension, dry needling helps restore the muscle’s ability to lengthen and contract properly. This can correct biomechanical issues that were putting stress on the hip bursa in the first place.
When combined with other physical therapy techniques, such as corrective exercises and manual therapy, dry needling can significantly speed up recovery from hip bursitis.
What to Expect During a Dry Needling Session
If you’re considering dry needling for hip bursitis at one of our clinics in Sioux Falls, Omaha, or Austin, it’s helpful to know what the process involves. Our one-on-one sessions last about an hour, ensuring you receive personalized and focused care.
Your performance physical therapist will start with a thorough evaluation to identify the specific muscles and trigger points contributing to your hip pain. Once the target areas are located, you will be positioned comfortably. The therapist will then insert the sterile needles into the trigger points. You might feel a slight prick, but the insertion is often painless.
When the needle reaches the trigger point, you may experience the local twitch response, which can feel like a brief muscle cramp or fasciculation. While this sensation can be momentarily intense, it’s a positive sign that the treatment is working. The needles typically remain in place for a short period before being removed.
After the session, it’s common to feel some muscle soreness, similar to what you might feel after a tough workout. This soreness usually subsides within 24-48 hours. Your therapist will provide you with aftercare instructions, which may include gentle stretching, applying heat, and staying hydrated. Most of our clients report significant improvements in pain and mobility after just a few sessions.
Is Dry Needling the Right Choice for You?
Dry needling is a safe and effective treatment for many people suffering from hip bursitis, but it’s just one part of a comprehensive recovery plan. At Empower U, we believe in a holistic approach. Your personalized treatment will likely include:
- Dry Needling: To release muscle knots and reduce pain.
- Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to improve joint mobility and soft tissue function.
- Corrective Exercises: Tailored exercises to strengthen weak muscles, stretch tight ones, and improve your overall biomechanics.
- Education: Guidance on activity modification, posture, and strategies to prevent future flare-ups.
Our goal is not just to get you out of pain, but to empower you with the tools and knowledge to stay active and injury-free.
Find Relief from Hip Bursitis Today
Living with hip pain can keep you from the activities you love, whether it’s running a 5k, playing with your kids, or simply enjoying a walk without discomfort. If you’re in the Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha, NE, or Austin, TX areas, you don’t have to let hip bursitis control your life. Dry needling for hip bursitis could be the solution you’ve been searching for.
At Empower U, our team is dedicated to helping you recover, perform, and prevent future injuries. We use a proven 4-phase treatment approach to guide you from pain relief to peak performance.
Ready to take the first step towards a pain-free life? Schedule an appointment with one of our expert performance physical therapists today and discover if dry needling is the right solution for you.
