Last Reviewed by: Dr. Steve Knighton | March 15, 2026

Hip Pain Treatment Oakville

Are you suffering from hip pain? Is your pain at the front of hip? Your side of your hip? Your side of your hip but lower down your leg? Is your hip pain more at the back then the front or the side?

These are the questions our Oakville Chiropractic and physiotherapy team ask to all our hip pain patients. If your hip pain is at the front it is most likely a hip flexor or psoas issue. If your hip pain is at the back or the side it is most likely an SI Joint or a Glute issue or even an IT Band issue. However, if your hip pain is a little lower than your bum at the outside top of your leg it could be Greater Trochanteric Bursitis.

If your hip pain symptoms are related to a workplace injury, learn how to start a WSIB claim and access approved treatment in Oakville.

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Anatomy of Hip Pain Video:

What is Greater Trochanteric Bursitis and Hip Pain?

Greater Trochanteric Bursitis (GTB) or Hip Bursitis can be confused with hip joint bursitis but it is a completely different thing. Greater Trochanteric Bursitis is a painful condition that can affect old and young, athletic and sedentary. The pain is usually located on the outside of your hip at the top of your leg. In most cases, the patient will have limited range of motion of their leg and low back. The pain will get worse with sitting or with increased physical activity. Lying on the injured side will most likely cause pain within minutes. Most patients will be unable to bring their knee to their chest without severe lateral hip pain.

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A picture showing what GTB is with marks on patient's leg for effected areas

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    September 7, 2024

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    August 7, 2024

    I’ve been going to Steve and his team for chiropractic care for several years, and they have helped me tremendously. Despite living in downtown Toronto, I make the trip out to Oakville because the quality of care is truly worth it. Steve takes a holistic approach, looking at the... read more

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Diagnosing Greater Trochanteric Bursitis

A graphic showing Greater Trochanteric Bursitis pain area

Getting the right diagnosis is key to any treatment plan at our evidence based chiropractic clinic in Oakville. Dr. Steve and his hip treatment deep needs to make sure your hip pain isn’t coming from your back, glute, hip joint or somewhere else.

Once they determine you have a diagnosis of Trochanteric Bursitis they will most likely treat not only the outside of your hip, but also your ITB, Glutes and SI Joint. Treatment will most likely include shockwave therapy and a manual adjustment of your back!

The right diagnosis is the key to treatment. Patients could have two issues or more going on. Figuring out what is the root cause of the problem is the key to patient success!

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Causes of Greater Trochanteric Bursitis

Although there are many causes of Greater Trochanteric Bursitis, Dr. Steve usually sees this diagnosis in people who work at a desk all day, patients who are active with super tight leg muscles, and patients who SI Joint or Pelvis are locked up in the wrong position causing an increase in tension of the muscles of the outside of the hip. In some cases the hip pain is from a fall and might be something else completely.

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drawing of a person walking with a orange hip, looks painful.

 

Treatment for Greater Trochanteric Bursitis

Once the diagnosis of Greater Trochanteric Bursitis has been given by our experienced chiropractic team. Treatment will begin with the patient lying on their good side with the bad side facing up and treatment will begin!

Treatment plans for Greater Trochanteric Bursitis can range from 1 month to 3 months and 8 visits to 20 visits depending on the timeline and severity of the injury. Almost all patients will go home with icing instructions and some sort of stretching program to get the healing started faster and get them back to want they want to do

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Hip Pain & Greater Trochanteric Pain Treatment Video:

4 Steps to Treating Greater Trochanteric Bursitis and Hip Pain

1. Interferential Current Therapy (IFC):

At our Oakville clinic, Interferential Current Therapy (IFC) is often used during the early phase of hip pain treatment to reduce discomfort and accelerate healing. Targeted heat is applied to the hip to increase circulation and relax surrounding muscles before IFC is introduced.

IFC is delivered through a specialized vacuum applicator that gently suctions to the skin. This advanced electrical stimulation penetrates deeper than traditional surface stimulation, helping to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and control pain in irritated hip structures such as the joint capsule, surrounding musculature, or irritated tendons.

By increasing circulation to the injured area, IFC helps prepare the hip for the next phase of treatment — whether that involves hands-on therapy, shockwave treatment, or guided rehabilitation exercises. Many patients report a noticeable reduction in stiffness and improved mobility even after the first session.

This combination of heat and IFC therapy is a safe, evidence-based approach used by healthcare professionals to support recovery and optimize results for patients experiencing hip pain in Oakville.

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suction ifc machine on a female patients lateral hip

 2. Hip Pain Shockwave Therapy:

Following IFC therapy, patients receive Shockwave Therapy to the outside of the hip and upper thigh — an area commonly involved in conditions such as gluteal tendinopathy, bursitis, and chronic lateral hip pain.

At our Oakville chiropractic and physiotherapy clinic, Shockwave Therapy uses a pneumatic (air-powered) device that delivers rapid mechanical pulses to the injured tissue — up to 15 pulses per second, with treatments typically reaching 1,500 pulses per session. These targeted shockwaves stimulate circulation, break down scar tissue, and promote cellular repair in chronically irritated or degenerative tissues.

Treatment intensity is carefully adjusted based on each patient’s tolerance and therapeutic needs, typically ranging between 0.3 BAR and 5.0 BAR. While the sensation can be intense, most patients appreciate the deeper therapeutic effect — especially when treating stubborn hip conditions that have not responded to rest or traditional therapy alone.

Ultrasound gel is applied to ensure full surface contact and maximum energy transmission into the affected tissue, optimizing treatment effectiveness.

Shockwave Therapy is widely recognized as a state-of-the-art, evidence-based treatment used by healthcare professionals to accelerate healing and improve function in patients experiencing persistent hip pain in Oakville.

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A shockwave gun being used on patient to treat GTB at Oakville clinic

 

3. Active Release Therapy and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Treatment:

Following Shockwave Therapy, Dr. Steve will often incorporate Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy (IASTT) to address residual tightness and tissue restriction around the hip joint. Using specialized treatment tools, controlled pressure is applied to the affected hip and surrounding structures to help break down scar tissue, improve mobility, and stimulate healthy tissue remodeling.

This technique allows for precise treatment of the gluteal muscles, tensor fasciae latae (TFL), and lateral hip structures that commonly contribute to persistent hip pain.

In many cases, Active Release Therapy (ART) is also performed on the glute muscles and iliotibial (IT) band. ART is a hands-on, movement-based therapy designed to release adhesions within muscles and fascia while the patient moves through specific ranges of motion. This helps restore proper muscle function, reduce tension, and improve overall hip mechanics.

The combination of IASTT and Active Release Therapy allows for a comprehensive, targeted approach to treating hip pain in Oakville — especially for patients dealing with chronic tightness, tendon irritation, or reduced hip mobility.

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Physiotherapy treatment being performed on patient for Hip pain

 4. Chiropractic Adjustment for Hip Pain:

If you are being treated by one of our chiropractors, a targeted chiropractic adjustment to the low back and sacroiliac (SI) joint may be incorporated into your hip pain treatment plan. The alignment and mobility of the lumbar spine and SI joint play a critical role in overall hip mechanics. When these areas are restricted or not moving properly, abnormal stress is often transferred directly into the hip joint and surrounding muscles.

A precise chiropractic adjustment helps restore proper joint motion, reduce nerve irritation, and improve the way the hips, pelvis, and lower back function together as a unit. By re-aligning the sacroiliac joint and optimizing lumbar mobility, we often see immediate improvements in hip range of motion and reduced muscular tension.

In many patients who have previously been treated elsewhere for hip pain without achieving lasting results, addressing the lower back and SI joint has proven to be the missing piece. Hip pain rarely exists in isolation — it is frequently part of a larger biomechanical chain involving the pelvis and lumbar spine.

By combining chiropractic adjustments with soft tissue therapy, shockwave treatment, and rehabilitation exercises, our Oakville clinic takes a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to resolving hip pain at its source rather than simply masking symptoms.

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Dr. Steve performing Chiropractic Adjustment to patient for Sciatica pain

Physiotherapy For Hip Pain

A picture showing what GTB is with marks on patient's leg for effected areas

At our clinic in Oakville our physiotherapist, Vinaya and her physiotherapy team have had great success treating hip injuries, GTP, hip arthritis and even hip replacements. The treatment mentioned above is also used in your physiotherapy treatment plans. Learn more about our physiotherapy options!

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Greater Trochanteric Bursitis FAQs