An Interventional Pain and Sports Medicine Practice

An Interventional Pain & Sports
Medicine Practice

What is iliopsoas bursitis? | Barr Center | Virginia Beach, VA

Inflammation of the iliopsoas bursa (the largest bursa in the body) which lies between the front of the hip joint and the iliopsoas muscle (a hip flexor) is called iliopsoas bursitis. This bursa helps reduce rubbing and friction between the bones and soft tissues that meet at your hip joint capsule. Bursitis in this area can be mistaken for hip joint arthritis. It can become inflamed due to overuse or trauma, which can result in muscle tightness or imbalance.

Iliopsoas bursitis is most commonly caused by:   

  • Hip Pathology
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Recreational Injuries which require repeated hip flexing, such as:
    • Soccer
    • Ballet
    • Jumping Hurdles
    • Martial Arts
  • Infection of the bursa (which is rare)

What are the symptoms of Iliopsoas Bursitis?

The onset of pain will generally be gradual with symptoms slowly worsening over weeks or months:

  • Pain and tenderness that radiates from deep in the groin region or front of the hip radiating around and down the front of the thigh and down to the knee
  • Increased pain with hip flexion
  • Pain in the front of the hip that will usually be experienced for a short period of time during
    • Vigorous activities like jogging or kicking a ball with your instep
    • Getting up from a seated position
    • Extending your leg while driving
    • Walking up stairs
    • Bringing your knee up to your chest (especially against resistance)
    • Lying down without support
  • Limping, which results from:
    • Weakness in the upper thigh/hip area
    • Only one leg is involved
    • Taking smaller steps because of hip tightness
  • Hip stiffness and tightness in groin as well as the knee, as a result of a tight iliopsoas muscle

Diagnosis of Iliopsoas Bursitis:

Our treatment team will perform a comprehensive physical examination, that may include:

  • A Physical Exam with stress on the bursa may identify the condition
  • Imaging tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible injuries or conditions. These tests may include:
    • X-ray to rule out bony problems that may cause pain
    • Bone Scan
    • MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
    • Hip Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Treatments for Iliopsoas bursitis:

  • Rest and ice to the painful region
  • Modification of activities—avoiding the activities that worsen symptoms
  • Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
    • Use NSAIDs cautiously and for limited periods. Talk with your doctor about the NSAIDs you use.
  • A walking cane or crutches used for a week or more, when needed
  • Physical therapy with dry needling, myofascial release and therapeutic exercise
    • Instruction on how to stretch your hip flexor and rotator muscles
  • Corticosteroid or PRP injections with a local anesthetic performed under Ultrasound guidance
    • An injection into the bursa  can produce long lasting relief when combined with lifestyle changes. If pain and inflammation do return, another injection may be considered.
  • Prolozone therapy
  • If an infected bursa is suspected (a rare circumstance), fluid is removed from the sac for testing

How can Iliopsoas Bursitis be prevented?

Avoidance of behaviors and activities that inflame the bursa will help to prevent the occurrence of hip bursitis. Avoid repetitive activities that put stress on the hips. Some preventative steps include:

  • Avoidance of behaviors and activities that inflame the bursa will help to prevent the occurrence of iliopsoas bursitis
  • Exercise regularly to maintain balanced strength and flexibility of the hip muscles
  • Improvement of lower extremity alignment including possible use prescription of custom foot orthotics

Can the Barr Center Help You with Hip Pain Relief?

Call us at 757-578-2260 or email us at Info@BarrCenter.com to get started on relieving your hip pain. To learn more about the anatomy of the hip and the causes of hip pain, visit our blog articles below for more information.

Learn More

Other pain management conditions we treat are: Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Back Pain, and Knee Pain. We often use Regenerative Medicine, and sometimes combine physical therapy, in our pain management treatments.

INNOVATIVE PAIN & REGENERATIVE THERAPIES
INNOVATIVE PAIN & REGENERATIVE THERAPIES
Expert care for spine, joint, nerve, sports injuries, and chronic pain.

Find Relief From the Conditions Holding You Back

Dr. Lisa Barr is a leading pain management physician in Virginia Beach with over 35 years of experience diagnosing and treating spine, joint, nerve, and musculoskeletal pain. As a Board Certified PM&R specialist, she focuses on whole-body, non-surgical solutions that uncover the true root cause of pain. She is also the international bestselling author of Outsmart Your Pain and one of the region’s most experienced experts in regenerative medicine, PRP, and advanced biologic therapies.

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OVERVIEW

The Barr Center for Innovative Pain and Regenerative Therapies, led by Dr. Lisa Barr, is dedicated to helping people in pain. With over forty years of experience, Dr. Barr and her staff offer a range of evaluation and treatment options, including osteopathic assessment, trigger point injections, prolotherapy, and regenerative therapies. They prioritize a caring atmosphere and involve patients in their own care, ensuring they understand the recommended treatments. If necessary, they collaborate with other professionals to provide a comprehensive approach. Dr. Barr’s expertise has been recognized with the Top Doc award for thirty years.

FAQ

Pain Management and Treatment

The Barr Center for Innovative Pain & Regenerative Therapies is located at:

933 First Colonial Road, Suite 200
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Phone: 757-578-2260
Email: info@BarrCenter.com

Monday–Thursday: 8:30 am–5:00 pm

Friday: Closed (note: physician on call)

Not always. Some insurance plans—especially HMOs—require a referral before seeing a specialist. To confirm what your specific plan requires, call your insurance provider or contact our office at 757-578-2260.

We accept most major insurance plans (except Medicaid). If your plan requires a referral or pre-authorization to see a specialist, you will need one for your first visit. After your initial consultation, our office obtains any future pre-authorizations, sometimes with assistance from your referring provider. Visit our Patient Resources page for details.

Yes. We offer telemedicine visits for certain appointment types, including follow-up visits and treatment discussions. Some procedures require in-office evaluation, and our team will help determine whether a virtual visit is appropriate.

Conditions and Treatment Questions

Led by pain management specialist Lisa Barr, M.D., the Barr Center provides comprehensive musculoskeletal and pain treatments including:

• Acupuncture
• Mind-body medicine and lifestyle optimization
• Interventional spinal procedures
• Sports medicine
• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine (PRP, prolotherapy)

We treat a wide range of pain and musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• Neck, shoulder, hip, back, and knee pain
• Sports injuries and repetitive strain conditions
• Posture, sleep, and movement-related pain
• Car accident injuries, including whiplash

Our approach provides proven alternatives to surgery and long-term medications through targeted injections, hands-on physical therapy, acupuncture, lifestyle guidance, and regenerative medicine.

If your pain is persistent, recurring, or limiting daily activities, it is time for an evaluation. We assess how your joints move, how your muscles function, and whether lifestyle factors are contributing to your symptoms.

We offer a comprehensive, root-cause approach to pain in a boutique practice setting.

Our team is highly specialized, and we combine interventional pain medicine, regenerative therapies, physical therapy, and whole-person care—all under one roof.

Our team includes board-certified physicians, licensed physical therapists, regenerative medicine specialists, acupuncture providers, and experienced clinical support staff with focused expertise in musculoskeletal medicine and pain management.

Preparing for your First Appointment

To help make your first visit efficient, please bring:

• Photo ID
• Insurance card
• Referral (if required by your insurance)
• Completed new-patient paperwork
• Co-pay, if applicable

If you have MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, or lab results, please have your referring provider fax them to our office. You may also download our Medical Records Request Form to expedite the process.

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