Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy
Published on: July 2, 2021
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: epidemiology and associated factors
Neil A Segal1, David T Felson, James C Torner
1Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, University of Iowa and VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA. neil-segal@uiowa.edu
Objectives:
To describe the prevalence of greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS); to determine whether GTPS is associated with iliotibial band (ITB) tenderness, knee osteoarthritis (OA), body mass index (BMI), or low back pain (LBP); and to assess whether GTPS is associated with reduced hip internal rotation, physical activity, and mobility.
Design:
Cross-sectional, population-based study.
Setting:
Multicenter observational study.
Participants:
Community-dwelling adults (N=3026) ages 50 to 79 years.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Greater trochanteric tenderness to palpation in subjects with complaints of hip pain and no signs of hip OA or generalized myofascial tenderness.
Results:
The prevalence of unilateral and bilateral GTPS was 15.0% and 8.5% in women and 6.6% and 1.9% men. Odds ratio (OR) for women was 3.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.67-4.25), but age and race were not significantly associated with GTPS. In a multivariate model, adjusting for age, sex, ITB tenderness, ipsilateral and contralateral knee OA, BMI, and LBP, ITB tenderness (OR=1.72; 95% CI, 1.34-2.19), knee OA ipsilaterally (OR=3.47; 95% CI, 2.72-4.42) and contralaterally (OR=1.74; 95% CI, 1.32-2.28), and LBP (OR=2.79; 95% CI, 2.22-3.50) were positively related to GTPS. In this complete model, BMI was not associated with GTPS (OR=1.10; 95% CI, 0.80-1.52 when comparing >or=30 with <25kg/m(2)). Hip internal rotation range of motion did not differ based on GTPS status. After multivariate adjustment, GTPS did not alter physical activity score, but bilateal GTPS was significantly associated with a higher 20-meter walk time and chair stand time.
Conclusions:
The higher prevalence of GTPS in women and in adults with ITB pain or knee OA indicates that altered lower-limb biomechanics may be related to GTPS. Slower functional performance in those with GTPS suggests that the study of targeted rehabilitation may be useful. A longitudinal study will be necessary to identify causal factors and outcomes of interventions.
