Exercises For Gluteal Tendinopathy Handout

Key Takeaways

Progressive loading restores gluteal tendon capacity better than rest alone

Evidence supports specific exercise progressions over generic strengthening

Clinical assessment criteria guide safe exercise advancement for each patient

Return-to-activity protocols reduce re-injury risk in sport and work

Gluteal Tendinopathy Exercises Handout: Evidence-Based Rehabilitation Guide

Gluteal tendinopathy causes lateral hip pain and significantly impacts patient function. Exercises for gluteal tendinopathy handouts provide physiotherapists and clinic teams with structured, evidence-based protocols to guide patient recovery. Unlike passive interventions, progressive loading exercises are the clinical standard. This handout summarises key exercise progressions, clinical assessment criteria, and return-to-activity guidance grounded in peer-reviewed research.

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What is Gluteal Tendinopathy?

Gluteal tendinopathy is a chronic overload injury affecting the gluteus medius and minimus tendons where they insert on the greater trochanter. It accounts for 20-35% of lateral hip pain presentations. Pain typically occurs with hip abduction, single-leg stance, and activities involving repetitive loading (running, stair climbing, prolonged standing). Unlike acute inflammation, tendinopathy involves structural changes to the tendon matrix requiring specific loading patterns to restore capacity. Recent clinical guidelines on physiotherapy management of gluteal tendinopathy emphasise the importance of individualised loading protocols.

Rest alone does not cure tendinopathy. Clinical evidence confirms that continued rest delays recovery and increases re-injury risk. Instead, systematic reviews published in PMC demonstrate that progressive loading exercises improve pain and function. The handout approach integrates clinical assessment with exercise prescription to individualise treatment based on patient presentation. Research demonstrates that education plus exercise interventions are cost-effective and improve quality of life compared to corticosteroid injection alone.

Physiotherapy clinics managing gluteal tendinopathy require standardised protocols to ensure consistency across practitioners and track patient progress. Handout resources support informed consent, set clear expectations, and provide home exercise guidance that extends treatment beyond the clinic setting. Digital handouts stored in patient records allow digital forms systems to track compliance and outcome measures throughout recovery.

How to Use the Gluteal Tendinopathy Exercises Handout

The exercises for gluteal tendinopathy handout is structured as a five-step clinical workflow. Each step integrates assessment with prescribed exercise progressions, allowing practitioners to customise the protocol based on individual patient tolerance and functional goals.

1. Step 1: Baseline Assessment and Contraindication Screening – Complete a gluteal tendinopathy assessment screen before exercise prescription. Test single-leg stance duration, pain provocation (modified Thomas test for hip flexor tightness, FABER test for hip abductor weakness). Identify contraindications: acute inflammation (use ice and modification first), neurological symptoms (refer), or imaging findings requiring specialist input. This baseline determines starting exercise phase and informs progression criteria.
2. Step 2: Phase 1 Exercises (Weeks 1-2): Pain Management and Initial Loading – Begin with isometric hip abduction holds in side-lying or standing at the wall. Perform 5-10 second holds, 3 sets of 10 repetitions, once daily. Progress to lateral band walks with a resistance loop if tolerated. Emphasise controlled movement and pain monitoring: symptoms should remain below 3/10 during exercise and return to baseline within 2 hours. Document baseline pain and function using patient-reported outcomes (e.g. Lower Extremity Functional Scale).
3. Step 3: Phase 2 Exercises (Weeks 3-6): Progressive Strengthening – Advance to eccentric loading (controlled lowering against gravity). Side-lying leg lifts, progressing to standing hip abduction with resistance bands. Add single-leg stance challenges: standing on one leg for 30-60 seconds, advancing to unstable surfaces (foam pad). Increase volume: 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions, 3-4 times weekly. Apply clinical assessment: if pain worsens or function plateaus, reduce volume and extend the phase by 1-2 weeks.
4. Step 4: Phase 3 Exercises (Weeks 7-8): Functional and Return-to-Activity Training – Integrate task-specific movements mimicking return-to-activity goals. For runners: single-leg deadlifts, lateral lunges, step-ups (8-10 reps per leg, 3 sets). For desk workers: sit-to-stand transitions with gluteal activation, hip bridge holds (3 sets, 60-second holds). Progress to dynamic activities: short walking intervals progressing to light jogging on grass (pain-controlled). Track tolerance using a standardised return-to-sport or return-to-work scale.
5. Step 5: Monitoring Compliance and Progression – Schedule weekly reviews or bi-weekly telehealth check-ins using telehealth communication tools. Review exercise compliance, pain patterns, and functional improvements. Document which exercises the patient tolerates best and adjust protocols accordingly. Use objective measures: repeat baseline tests (single-leg stance duration, functional strength tests) at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. When all return-to-activity criteria are met, transition to maintenance exercise and discuss long-term self-management.

Who is the Gluteal Tendinopathy Exercises Handout Helpful For?

Physiotherapy clinics managing musculoskeletal injuries benefit most from this resource. Sports medicine practitioners working with runners, footballers, and athletes returning from hip injury use exercises for gluteal tendinopathy protocols to standardise care. Occupational therapists supporting workers with chronic lateral hip pain adapt the handout to workplace activities (prolonged standing, stair climbing). Primary care clinics and musculoskeletal rapid-access services use the handout to guide patient self-management between appointments.

Allied health teams in aesthetic and wellness clinics also benefit: massage therapists identify gluteal tendinopathy presentations and refer appropriately, while practitioners offering functional movement assessment integrate these exercises into post-treatment guidance. Multi-disciplinary teams in private practice settings use the handout to communicate consistent exercise recommendations across practitioners.

Benefits of Using the Gluteal Tendinopathy Exercises Handout

Standardised Evidence-Based Protocols. Reduces variability between practitioners by establishing clear exercise progressions grounded in peer-reviewed research. Every physiotherapist in your clinic delivers the same evidence-based sequence, improving patient outcomes and team credibility.

Accelerated Patient Recovery. Progressive loading is the clinical gold standard. A structured handout eliminates guesswork and delays associated with generic exercise guidance. Patients progress through phases systematically, minimising unnecessary pain and avoiding re-injury.

Compliance and Patient Engagement. Patients with clear exercise instructions and documented progression criteria are more compliant with home programs. Handouts stored in patient records accessible via patient portals enable on-demand reference and reduce missed exercises due to forgotten instructions.

Reduced Clinical Time. Practitioners spend less time explaining exercise sequences verbally. Handouts provide comprehensive guidance, freeing clinic time for hands-on assessment and technique correction. This efficiency gain allows clinics to manage more patients without extending appointment duration.

Documentation and Outcome Tracking. Integrated assessment criteria and outcome measures create an audit trail. You can demonstrate clinical effectiveness to insurers, accreditation bodies, and patients. This documentation supports CQC compliance and professional accountability.

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Progressive Loading Phases: Evidence and Clinical Application

The eight-week progression embedded in the handout reflects current best practice. The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy consensus on gluteal tendinopathy management emphasises that exercise-based interventions produce superior outcomes to passive modalities or rest. Each phase targets specific tendon adaptations: Phase 1 restores muscle activation patterns disrupted by pain; Phase 2 builds eccentric strength (the most functionally demanding loading pattern); Phase 3 integrates dynamic control and sport-specific tasks.

Clinical assessment criteria determine progression readiness. Standard metrics include: pain reduction (target ≤2/10 during exercise), single-leg stance improvement (baseline → 60+ seconds), and functional activity tolerance (stairs, light activity completed without symptom flare). Practitioners use these criteria to avoid premature progression (which causes setbacks) and identify patients requiring phase extension or specialist referral. Detailed gluteal tendinopathy assessment protocols help clinicians standardise diagnostic and progression criteria.

Return-to-Activity Guidelines: Sport, Running, and Work

The handout includes sport-specific return-to-activity frameworks. For runners, progression follows: walking → walk/run intervals (60 seconds running, 120 seconds walking) → continuous running on soft surfaces (grass, track) → road running → sport-specific drills. For office workers with prolonged sitting: hourly movement breaks (glute activation exercises), sit-to-stand modifications, and gradual return to full standing tolerance. For manual labourers: stair climbing, lifting mechanics, and load management.

Each framework includes pain thresholds and functional criteria. Patients remain in Phase 3 until they can complete sport-specific tasks pain-free and demonstrate reliable single-leg strength (assessed via single-leg squat quality or strength testing). This prevents premature return (leading to re-injury) and unnecessary activity restriction (delaying recovery).

Expert Picks

Looking for templates that integrate with clinical workflows? Digital forms in Pabau enable handouts to be delivered automatically upon assessment completion, with automated compliance tracking built in.

Need to document exercise instruction and monitor adherence? AI-powered clinical notes automatically transcribe exercise corrections and patient responses, creating a clinical record of instruction delivery without manual documentation burden.

Seeking evidence-based assessment templates? Return-to-running protocols provide structured assessment frameworks that complement gluteal tendinopathy handouts for running-specific populations.

Clinical Safety: Contraindications and Red Flags

Practitioners must screen for conditions requiring different management. Acute gluteal tendinopathy with significant swelling (within 48-72 hours of injury) may benefit from initial load reduction and ice; exercise progression follows once inflammation subsides. Neurological symptoms (tingling, numbness, weakness in non-gluteal distribution) suggest nerve involvement requiring specialist referral before exercise prescription. Imaging findings (severe tendon degeneration, full-thickness tears, labral pathology) may necessitate earlier specialist review.

Exercise-induced symptom flares (pain increasing above baseline during or after exercises, lasting 2+ hours) indicate progression was premature. In these cases, revert to the previous phase for 1-2 weeks before re-attempting progression. Clinical evidence-based load management strategies help practitioners determine appropriate exercise regression thresholds.

Some patients experience delayed-onset flares (24-48 hours post-exercise), signalling overload. The handout includes symptom monitoring guidance to help patients distinguish normal post-exercise muscle soreness from harmful pain patterns.

Implementing the Handout in Your Clinic

Begin by printing or exporting the handout to your clinic management system. Train all practitioners (physiotherapists, sports therapists, occupational therapists) on the assessment criteria and phase progression guidelines. Assign responsibility: one lead clinician reviews and approves exercise progressions, ensuring protocol fidelity. Use a standardised outcome measure (Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Pain Catastrophising Scale, or custom single-leg stance time) as your baseline and progression benchmark.

Schedule patient check-ins at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 to assess progress against clinical criteria. If a patient plateaus (no functional improvement for 2+ weeks despite compliance), consider: modifying exercise selection (different movement patterns may reduce pain), addressing concurrent issues (hip flexor tightness, lumbar stiffness, poor sitting posture), or specialist referral (imaging, injection, or advanced manual therapy). Document all progressions and regressions to build an evidence base of what works within your clinic.

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Conclusion

Gluteal tendinopathy exercises handouts translate evidence into clinical practice. Progressive loading, structured assessment criteria, and return-to-activity guidelines form the foundation of effective physiotherapy management. Clinics implementing standardised handout protocols report improved patient compliance, faster functional recovery, and better long-term outcomes. Download the resource, train your team, and begin delivering evidence-based gluteal tendinopathy care today.