Hip · Dunwoody, GA
Hip Pain in Dunwoody: Lateral Hip, Tendon and Load-Related Problems
You can't lie on that side at night, the first steps after sitting are the worst, and long walks leave the outside of your hip burning.
Direct answer
What you should know about hip pain
Hip pain has several distinct patterns: pain on the outside of the hip often involves gluteal tendons, groin pain more often involves the joint itself, and buttock pain can be referred from the lower back. Shockwave therapy has been studied for chronic lateral hip tendon pain. Evaluation determines which pattern you have.
What is hip pain?
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome involves the gluteal tendons and nearby tissue on the outside of the hip and is a common source of lateral hip pain in adults.
- Hip joint problems, including osteoarthritis and labral issues, more often produce groin pain and rotation restriction.
- Deep buttock pain may be referred from the lumbar spine rather than the hip itself.
Common symptoms
- Pain on the outside of the hip, sometimes spreading down the thigh
- Pain lying on that side at night
- Pain with the first steps after sitting
- Discomfort with stairs, hills or long walks
- Tenderness pressing the bony point of the hip
Possible causes and contributors
- Increases in walking, hiking or running volume
- Gluteal strength deficits changing pelvic control
- Prolonged sitting and desk-heavy weeks
- Sleeping positions loading the hip for hours
- Previous back or knee problems changing how you move
Why it may keep coming back
- Compressive positions — crossing legs, sleeping on that side — keep irritating the tendon daily.
- Stretching the outside of the hip can increase tendon compression and worsen symptoms.
- Strength work is often skipped in favour of rest or massage.
- The pain is assumed to be bursitis and treated as inflammation only.
Activities commonly affected
When professional evaluation makes sense
- Lateral hip pain lasting more than a month
- Night pain preventing side-lying sleep
- Pain spreading down the outside of the thigh
- Groin pain with restricted hip rotation
Common conservative approaches
- Gluteal tendon loading programs
- Position and sleep-posture adjustment to reduce compression
- Walking and activity progression
- Manual therapy and lumbar assessment when appropriate
- Referral for imaging when joint pathology is suspected
Signs that need prompt medical attention
- Hip pain after a fall, especially with inability to bear weight
- Progressive night pain unrelated to position
- Fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
- Numbness, weakness or bowel or bladder changes
If you experience any of these, contact a medical provider or seek emergency care rather than booking a shockwave evaluation.
Where SoftWave may fit
Chronic greater trochanteric pain syndrome is one of the hip presentations shockwave therapy has been studied for, generally in combination with exercise. SoftWave may be considered when examination supports a chronic gluteal tendon problem.
Where SoftWave may not fit
Hip joint arthritis, labral pathology, fracture and referred lumbar pain are not shockwave targets. Groin-dominant hip pain in particular warrants a different workup.
What an evaluation involves
At Compass Family Chiropractic in Dunwoody, the first step is understanding your history: where it hurts, how long, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried, and what it has stopped you doing. An examination follows to identify the likely tissue or condition involved and whether further testing or referral is appropriate. SoftWave is only discussed if the findings support it.
See how an evaluation worksRelevant research for hip pain
The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in common lower limb conditions: a systematic review including quantification of patient-rated pain reduction
Korakakis V, Whiteley R, Tzavara A, Malliaropoulos N · British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018
Reported meaningful pain reduction for several lower-limb conditions, including plantar fasciitis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome, while evidence quality varied by condition.
Limitations: Evidence strength differs sharply between conditions; the review cautions against treating all lower-limb pain as equally responsive.
Find this study on PubMedLow-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment for greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Furia JP, Rompe JD, Maffulli N · The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009
Shockwave-treated patients reported greater improvement in pain and function than a control group receiving other conservative care.
Limitations: Non-randomized comparison design; lateral hip pain has several possible sources that must be distinguished on examination.
Find this study on PubMed
Verified outcomes
Hip Pain outcomes will appear here once verified
This page is built to surface verified outcome data for hip pain automatically — baseline and post-treatment measures, timeframe and change. We do not publish invented percentages, invented patient stories or marketing statistics. Until verified data is supplied by the clinic, this space intentionally stays empty.
How our outcomes reporting worksHip Pain questions
Where treatment happens
SoftWave Therapy Right Here in Dunwoody
SoftWave therapy is provided by Compass Family Chiropractic at their Dunwoody office — not a partner clinic in another city. If you live or work near Dunwoody, Perimeter Center, Brookhaven or Chamblee, treatment happens here.
Compass Family Chiropractic1745 Old Spring House Ln., Ste. 410
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Call or text: (770) 452-0022
See If SoftWave Is Worth Exploring
An evaluation is how you find out what you're actually dealing with — and whether SoftWave belongs in the plan.