A number of factors will cause lateral hip pain when you run. Age, poor footwear, running on uneven ground and increasing your distance too quickly all raise risk for conditions that cause hip pain. Such conditions include iliotibial band friction syndrome coupled with bursitis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, an iliac crest injury and hip fractures. Consult a doctor to gain a proper diagnosis and treatment plan if you suffer hip pain while running.
IT Band and Bursitis
Iliotibial band syndrome may be the cause of lateral hip and knee pain that is so severe you have to stop running. Your IT band is made up of a tough group of fibers that run along your lateral thigh, running from your upper hip to just below your knee. IT band syndrome can lead to painful bursitis on your outer hip. The top region of your IT band is most often involved in this bursitis. When this happens, the fluid-filled sac called the bursa on the outside point of your hip becomes inflamed. You are likely to feel pain if you lie on your side as well as during activity with bursitis. Overuse, such as increasing mileage too fast, can irritate your IT band and lead to bursitis. Running only on one side of a pitched road also raises your risk for IT band syndrome and bursitis. Poor biomechanics like excessive foot pronation, bowed legs, a pelvic tilt or a leg length discrepancy also increase your risk. Your doctor may recommend a combination of a stretching program, activity modification, changing your footwear, massage, ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, a steroid injection and physical therapy.
SI Joint
Sacroiliac, or SI, joint dysfunction may lead to pain in your lateral hip over time. You're more likely to initially feel pain in your lateral thigh, lower abdomen, buttocks and even your foot. Most of the time pain is also present at the SI joint. The SI joints are at the bottom of your back between your sacrum and hip bone on either side of your spine. SI dysfunction can be caused by overstriding on downhill runs, stepping off a curb into a hole on a run or by falling onto your buttocks. An SI injury potentially leads to lateral hip pain due to a functional leg-length discrepancy and an altered gait. These factors, in turn, raises risk for additional injuries including IT band syndrome, which causes pain in the side hip. While an SI problem can disrupt your training anywhere from weeks to months, you usually can do non-weight bearing work like pool running. Anti-inflammatory medicine, massage and physical therapy to improve flexibility and strength are the usual treatments.
Hip Pointer
Lateral hip pain may be due to a hip pointer, or an injury at the top part of your ilium known as the iliac crest. Your ilium is the largest hip bone. You are likely to rest your hands on its crest when you place your hands on your hips. A bone contusion with or without a fracture in which a small part of your bone is pulled off by a tendon is the cause of the pain. A contusion is a collection of fluid and blood that forms in an injury area. This problem is usually caused by direct trauma to your iliac crest. Rest, ice and physical therapy are usual treatments.
Fracture
A stress fracture will sometimes lead to lateral hip pain while running. (ref3)Such pain comes on without warning, may create a tender spot, has no other obvious explanation and will fail the "hop test," meaning hopping on the injured leg causes pain. Stress fractures of the hip are common among distance athletes. Increasing your distance too quickly raises risk for this injury. If you are female, you have a higher risk for this injury than your male counterparts. Also, the higher your age, the higher your risk. Rest, ice and staying off the affected leg for four to six weeks are common nonsurgical treatments. This is followed by physical therapy. Surgery may be required in some cases. While a stress fracture can lead to lateral pain, pain from a hip fracture is more common in the front of your groin area.
References
- Beginner Triathlete.com; Common Causes of Hip and Pelvic Pain in Runners; Andrew Gregory, M.D.
- "Running Times"; Is it a Stress Fracture?; Richard A. Lovett; March 2008
- "Running Times"; Owner's Manual -- My Hip Hurts; Cathy Fieseler; May 2007
- National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke:Piriformis Syndrome
- "Sports Injuries"; Jennifer A. Baima; 2009
- "Running Times"; Beating the Band; Brian Fullem; May 2004
