ILIOPSOAS TENDINOPATHY

The iliopsoas muscle is one of the strongest muscles around the hip and assists in external rotation and flexion of the leg, playing an important role in maintaining the strength and integrity of the hip joint. It also acts as a stabiliser of the lumbar spine and pelvis. Pathologic conditions of the iliopsoas have been shown to be a significant cause of hip pain and/or dysfunction and include asymptomatic snapping hip syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis and impingement. Additionally, conditions related to the iliopsoas muscle have been implicated in lumbopelvic disorders, such as low back and gluteal , intense groin pain particularly in the athletic population, and even anterior thigh and knee pain.

 

Iliopsoas tendinopathy refers to a condition that affects the insertion of the muscle on the femur, and can occur with repetitive hip flexion and other deficits of the biomechanical system resulting in chronic degenerative changes of the tendon. Due to the close proximity of the Iliopsoas tendon and the related bursa, inflammation of one of these structures inevitably causes inflammation of the other. Therefore, iliopsoas tendinitis and iliopsoas bursitis are commonly described synonymously, as the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management are nearly identical.