How to Prescribe Exercises for Gluteal Tendinopathy (Evidence-Based Guide for PTs)
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In today's video we go over, How to Prescribe Exercises for Gluteal Tendinopathy (Evidence-Based Guide for PTs):
Struggling to progress your patients with lateral hip pain? Whether they’re limping into your clinic or hitting a wall with heavy lunges, finding the right "entry point" for gluteal tendonopathy is one of the biggest challenges for physical therapists and coaches.
In today’s video, we'll break down the exact framework for dosing exercise based on tissue sensitivity, patient goals, and available equipment. We move beyond basic clamshells to explore high-level loading strategies that actually bridge the gap between rehab and performance.
What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✅ The Pathophysiology of Loading: Why single-leg movements increase compressive forces on the glute medius and minimus.
✅ The Progressions: A step-by-step guide from isometrics (using the pain monitoring model) to dynamic loading and plyometrics.
✅ Specific Exercises: Detailed tutorials on half-side planks, single-leg hip thrusts, "kickstand" squats, and the controversial (but effective) single-leg RDL.
✅ Advanced Variations: How to use deficits, bands, and contralateral loading to "dial up" tendon strain for your athletic population.
✅ The Evidence: A look at the 2018 Mellor et al. trial and why education on avoiding compression (like crossing legs or side-sleeping) is just as vital as the gym work.
We help thousands of clinicians and coaches become 1% better every day through online courses and mentoring. Our goal is to bridge the gap between physical therapy and performance training.
- 0:00 - Intro
- 0:15 - Why Care?
- 0:30 - Patient Goals
- 0:45 - Equipment Access
- 0:55 - Patient Preferences
- 1:29 - Gluteal Tendon Anatomy
- 1:54 - Single Leg Considerations
- 2:13 - Closed Chain AB / ADuction
- 2:35 - Compressive Forces
- 3:01 - Offload Aggravating Movements
- 3:26 - How Much Pain is Acceptable?
- 3:56 - Load & Speed
- 4:48 - Easy to Hard
- 6:58 - Side Plank Isometrics
- 8:06 - Double Leg Exercises
- 8:38 - Squats & Deadlifts
- 9:26 - Single Leg Exercises
- 13:34 - Step-ups
- 14:07 - Mirror Biofeedback
- 15:32 - Single Leg RDL
- 16:54 - Direct Loading
- 17:53 - Airplane
- 19:08 - Cable ABDuction
- 19:51 - Rotation Exercises
- 20:49 - Curtsy Step-up
- 21:10 - Side Plank Variations
- 22:38 - Clamshell Variations
- 24:05 - Exercise vs. Sham Exercise
- 24:42 - Final Thoughts
Gluteal genius,
- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS
Show Notes / Relevant Articles:
- FPF Mini Course - 7 Reasons Why Injuries Happen in the Gym and What to do About it
- Radicular Lower Back Pain MASTER CLASS For Physical Therapists [Disc Herniation]
- Hip Labral Repair Rehabilitation [Guide for Physical Therapists]
- What Physical Therapists Need to Know About Adult Hip Dysplasia
- What Physical Therapists Need to Know About Femoral Acetabular Impingement Syndrome
- Want to earn some CEUs for physical therapists, physical therapy assistants & ATCs for watching this content? Click HERE to sign up for FPF "Insiders Academy" for just a dollar. You can earn CEUs for watching this content. Plus, you'll gain access to over 14 MASTER courses, 50+ cheat sheets, 100+ webinars, e-books and complete guides. You'll also get private access to the "Insiders Academy" community where you can have all of your questions answered by me.
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Thank you!
Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS
References:
- Mellor R, Bennell K, Grimaldi A, Nicolson P, Kasza J, Hodges P, Wajswelner H, Vicenzino B. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Nov;52(22):1464-1472. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-k1662rep. PMID: 30385462.