What Is the First Treatment for Gluteal Tendinopathy?

Gluteal tendinopathy affects the tendons of the buttock muscles that help stabilise the pelvis and move the hip. Pain may be felt on the outer hip and can worsen with side-lying, stairs, prolonged standing, or walking uphill. The tendon often responds better to a carefully graded load than to complete rest.

Physiotherapy helps identify aggravating positions and builds a programme around hip control, strength, and everyday demands. Early exercises may be gentle isometric holds; later work can add resistance and single-leg tasks as symptoms allow.

Reduce repeated compression over the outer hip: avoid lying on the painful side, sitting with the knees crossed, or standing with the hip pushed out for long periods. Keep moving within a manageable level and avoid sudden increases in hills, stairs, or running.

Follow the prescribed strengthening plan consistently and judge progress by function, sleep, and recovery after activity. If progress is limited, shockwave therapy or a more structured strength training rehabilitation programme may be discussed.

Arrange an assessment when outer-hip pain persists, disrupts sleep, or makes stairs and walking difficult. Seek prompt care after a fall or sudden injury, or for inability to bear weight, marked swelling, fever, new numbness, or significant weakness.

Ask which activities are currently overloading the tendon, how much discomfort is acceptable during exercise, how to progress resistance, and when another treatment should be considered.