The Hip Joint and Trochanteric Bursitis
July 6, 2008 by rainier
Let us understand first how the hip joint is constructed. There is the Acetabulum, which is the hip socket, and the Femoral Head, which is the ball-shaped upper part of the Femur (which is also known as the Upper Thigh bone).and which is cupped in the hollow of the Acetabulum. When we walk or run, the Femoral Head moves or rotates smoothly in the Acetabulum, and movement is aided by the buttock and hip muscles that enjoin and surround the hip joint.
The Great Trochanter, which is the protruding bone structure on the outside upper end of the femur, is the place where the buttock muscles connect to the hip joint. The largest buttock muscle is the Gluteus Maximus, and it is connected to the femur under the Great Trochanter. A large tendon passes over the Great Trochanter and connects with the Gluteus Maximus.
The friction that takes place between muscles, tendons, and bones during any movement is lubricated and reduced to a certain extent by the Bursa. This is a small fluid-filled tissue sac that is either already present in the area of friction or is produced by the body in response to the friction.
If there is too much friction or an injury, the Bursa sometimes get inflamed and this rather painful health complication is known as Trochanteric Bursitis. It is a quite common condition, especially amongst sports people, exercise fanatics, and senior citizens. This is the reason you should refrain from subjecting your body to over-strenuous physical activities. Stay healthy and in shape by exercising in moderation. Going overboard with something like three hours of non-stop aerobics is not exactly a good idea.
