Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS): How Focused Shockwave Therapy Helps Hip Pain

Understanding GTPS

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is one of the most common causes of outer hip pain. It often affects people who are active, but it can also trouble those with more sedentary lifestyles, especially if posture, walking patterns, or spinal stiffness place added stress on the hip.

Typical symptoms include:

• Pain over the outer side of the hip

• Discomfort when lying on the affected side

• Pain that worsens when climbing stairs, walking uphill, or standing after sitting

GTPS is most commonly linked to irritation of the gluteal tendons where they attach to the outer hip bone (greater trochanter). Sometimes it is accompanied by a small fluid-filled sac (bursa) becoming inflamed.

Why Focused Shockwave is Superior to Radial Shockwave

Many patients have heard of shockwave therapy, but not all shockwave machines are equal.

• Radial shockwave: This is a more superficial treatment, dispersing energy broadly into soft tissues. It can be useful for some tendon problems but often struggles to reach deeper tendon attachments like those around the hip.

• Focused shockwave: This penetrates more precisely and deeply, delivering controlled energy directly to the injured tendon. This stimulates healing, increases blood supply, reduces pain signals, and helps remodel the tendon more effectively.

For GTPS, the tendon insertion lies deep under layers of muscle and fat. Focused shockwave is therefore clinically superior - it reaches the root of the problem, where radial shockwave may provide only temporary relief.

Treatment Protocol

At Hampshire Spine & Joint Clinic, we use focused shockwave as part of a structured approach to GTPS:

1. Assessment

   • Detailed history and physical examination

   • Sometimes imaging (MRI/ultrasound) if needed to confirm diagnosis

2. Focused Shockwave Therapy

   • A typical course is 4–6 sessions (weekly)

   • Treatment is quick (10–15 minutes), with minimal discomfort

   • Patients usually feel improvement after the first 2–3 sessions

3. Osteopathy & Manual Therapy

   • Gentle mobilisation of the spine and pelvis to reduce abnormal hip loading

   • Soft tissue techniques for tight gluteal and IT band muscles

4. Exercise & Rehabilitation

   • Specific strengthening for the gluteus medius and minimus

   • Stretching to improve hip mobility

   • Postural and gait retraining, particularly for walking and stair climbing

5. Self-care advice

   • Avoid lying on the painful side (or use a pillow between knees)

   • Ice or heat for pain relief in the early stages

   • Gradual return to sport and activity, guided by symptom improvement

Recovery Expectations

Most patients experience:

• Noticeable pain reduction within 3–6 weeks

• Improved mobility and ability to lie on the hip comfortably

• Long-term improvement when shockwave is combined with rehabilitation and lifestyle advice

When to Seek Help

If you’ve been struggling with persistent hip pain, especially if it hasn’t improved with rest, exercise, or radial shockwave therapy elsewhere, focused shockwave may be the key to unlocking recovery.

At Hampshire Spine & Joint Clinic in Andover, we combine focused shockwave therapy, osteopathy, and tailored rehab to help patients return to walking, climbing stairs, and sleeping pain-free.

✅ We’re here to help. Call us on 01264 580280 or book online to arrange your consultation and start your recovery.