Can Acupuncture Help Hip Bursitis?

Manhattan Physical Therapy
Can Acupuncture Help Hip Bursitis?

Hip bursitis can make everyday activities—walking, climbing stairs, sleeping on your side—uncomfortable or even painful. For many people, the condition becomes frustrating when rest, medications, or injections only provide short-term relief. Acupuncture is increasingly used as a non-invasive option to reduce pain and inflammation while supporting long-term hip function.

Understanding Hip Bursitis and Why It Causes Pain

The hip is a weight-bearing ball-and-socket joint designed for stability and smooth movement. Around this joint are small fluid-filled sacs called bursae. Their role is to reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles during motion. When one of these bursae—most commonly the trochanteric bursa on the outer hip—becomes inflamed, hip bursitis develops. This inflammation is often triggered by:

  • Repetitive movements such as running, walking long distances, or climbing stairs

  • Prolonged pressure on the hip, including side sleeping

  • Muscle imbalances or poor hip mechanics

  • Previous injury or trauma

  • Underlying conditions like osteoarthritis or spinal issues

Pain is typically felt on the outer side of the hip and may radiate down the thigh or into the buttock. Many patients notice the discomfort worsens with activity, prolonged standing, or lying on the affected side at night.

Common Symptoms and Risk Factors of Hip Bursitis

Hip bursitis symptoms can range from mild irritation to persistent pain that interferes with daily life. Recognizing early signs helps prevent the condition from becoming chronic.

Common symptoms include:

  • Aching or sharp pain on the outside of the hip

  • Tenderness when pressing over the hip bone

  • Increased pain with walking, stair climbing, or standing from a seated position

  • Stiffness or reduced range of motion

  • Discomfort at night, especially when lying on the affected side

Risk factors that increase susceptibility include:

  • Repetitive physical activity or overuse

  • Poor posture or gait imbalances

  • Age-related changes in joint tissues

  • Leg length differences or hip muscle weakness

  • Occupations or lifestyles involving prolonged standing or walking

How Acupuncture Helps Hip Bursitis From a Medical Perspective

Acupuncture is used to address both pain and inflammation without introducing medication into the body. From a biomedical standpoint, research suggests acupuncture supports healing through several mechanisms relevant to hip bursitis.

Pain modulation:
Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins and other natural pain-relieving chemicals. These help reduce discomfort and improve pain tolerance.

Inflammation regulation:
By influencing the autonomic nervous system, acupuncture may help calm excessive inflammatory responses around the bursa, reducing swelling and tenderness over time.

Improved local circulation:
Needle stimulation increases blood flow around the hip, delivering oxygen and nutrients to irritated tissues and supporting natural repair processes.

Muscle tension reduction:
Tight hip and gluteal muscles often increase pressure on the bursa. Acupuncture helps relax these muscles, improving movement patterns and reducing mechanical stress on the joint.

Clinical studies have shown acupuncture to be beneficial for chronic musculoskeletal pain, including hip-related conditions, especially when combined with activity modification and therapeutic exercise.

Conventional Treatments for Hip Bursitis and Their Limitations

Hip bursitis is commonly managed with conservative medical care, especially during the early stages. These approaches often aim to reduce pain quickly, but they may not always address why the inflammation developed in the first place.

Common conventional treatments include:

  • Rest and activity modification

  • Ice and anti-inflammatory medications

  • Corticosteroid injections

  • Physical therapy

Many patients seek acupuncture after symptoms return or plateau with these methods. This is where acupuncture can serve as a complementary or alternative option, especially for people looking to avoid repeated medication use.

What to Expect During Acupuncture for Hip Bursitis

A typical acupuncture session for hip bursitis begins with a thorough intake. This includes discussing pain location, activity levels, sleep patterns, and daily stressors that may affect recovery. The goal is to understand the full picture, not just the hip pain.

During treatment:

  • Fine, sterile needles are placed around the hip, lower back, and related muscle groups.

  • Points may also be selected on the legs or arms to support circulation and pain regulation.

  • Many patients feel a dull ache, warmth, or heaviness, followed by relaxation.

  • Moist heat or gentle electrical stimulation may be used to enhance results.

Sessions usually last 45–60 minutes. Most patients notice gradual improvement over several visits, with reduced pain, improved mobility, and better sleep.

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Are Needed?

The number of treatments depends on how long symptoms have been present and how severe the inflammation is.

  • Acute hip bursitis: Improvement may occur within 4–6 sessions.

  • Chronic or recurring bursitis: A longer course, often 8–12 sessions, is common.

  • Maintenance care: Some patients choose occasional follow-up visits to prevent flare-ups, especially if they remain highly active.

Consistency matters. Regular treatments help calm inflammation while allowing the hip to recover without repeated setbacks.

Research Supporting Acupuncture for Hip and Joint Pain

Clinical research supports acupuncture as an effective option for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly reduce pain intensity and improve physical function in hip-related conditions by influencing pain pathways, inflammation, and circulation.

Systematic reviews published in peer-reviewed medical journals suggest acupuncture is particularly helpful when pain persists despite standard care. While research often focuses on hip osteoarthritis and chronic lateral hip pain, the mechanisms involved closely overlap with hip bursitis, making these findings clinically relevant.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Hip Bursitis

Patients often report benefits that extend beyond pain relief:

  • Reduced hip pain without medication dependency

  • Decreased inflammation and tenderness

  • Improved walking comfort and range of motion

  • Better sleep quality, especially for side sleepers

  • Lower stress levels, which can influence pain perception

  • Support for long-term joint health

Because acupuncture addresses both local inflammation and systemic factors, it is well suited for people dealing with recurring or activity-related hip bursitis.

Acupuncture vs Steroid Injections for Hip Bursitis

Steroid injections can be effective for rapid symptom relief, but they do not promote tissue healing and may increase recurrence when overused. Acupuncture works differently—it supports the body’s own healing processes and may reduce the need for repeat interventions.

Many patients choose acupuncture either before injections or after injections wear off, especially when they want a safer long-term strategy for managing hip pain.

Is Acupuncture Safe for Hip Bursitis?

When performed by a licensed practitioner, acupuncture is considered very safe. Side effects are minimal and may include mild soreness or temporary fatigue after treatment. There is no risk of joint damage or medication-related complications.

This makes acupuncture a suitable option for adults of all ages, including those who cannot tolerate anti-inflammatory medications.

If you are dealing with persistent outer hip pain in NYC, scheduling an acupuncture consultation may be the step that helps you move comfortably again.

What Do They Say About Us?

Alexander Liu

"Everyone on the team at Manhattan Physical Therapy is super nice and caring. They were able to pretty quickly diagnose my knee and hip problems and immediately put me to work to reduce the pain.."

Henry Myerberg

"You're not just a patient when you come to the Manhattan Physical Therapy. You feel like family there. In particular, Erica with her colleagues John, Lidia and Joe not only fix and improve you physically, they make you feel welcomed and cared for.."

Hakyung Kim

"Everyone is so kind and helpful! my knee and hip pain have improved massively since starting Manhattan PT, highly recommend to anyone. special thanks to Bianca, Lidia, Joe, and John!"


Manhattan Physical Therapy

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