Related to bursitis, Iliopsoas syndrome affects the group of muscles on the front of the hip joint - the psoas major, psoas minor and the iliacus. These muscles are responsible for flexion of the hip.
There are a number of symptoms that might indicate Iliopsoas syndrome, including:
- Pain in the hip and thigh region
- Stiffness in the hip
- Clicking or snapping in the hip
Treatment for iliopsoas syndrome is simple - you need to rest the joint in order to allow inflammation in the area to decrease. Pain will then resolve.
Other treatments include:
- Ice packs and heat treatments - to reduce pain and increase blood flow to the area
- Elevation to reduce swelling
- NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as ibuprofen
- Regular painkillers (analgesics)
As soon as pain and swelling are reduced, you need to begin a program of
Stretching and strengthening. This will increase flexibility and rebuild strength, both essential if you are to avoid re-injury.
As this is typically an overuse injury, you need to be careful of doing too much too soon. Build your workout program up gradually, increasing mileage and training quantities by no more than 10 percent per week.
