One-year outcomes following physical therapist-led intervention for chronic hip-related groin pain: Ancillary analysis of a pilot multicenter randomized clinical trial

Evidence related to physical therapist-led intervention for patients with chronic hip-related groin pain (HRGP) is limited. The purpose was to assess sustainability of treatment effects for people with HRGP undergoing two physical therapist-led interventions. We completed an ancillary analysis of a pilot multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Forty-six patients with chronic HRGP, 15–40 years, were enrolled. Patients were randomized to participate in 10 sessions over 12 weeks of either movement pattern training (MoveTrain) or traditional strength/flexibility (Standard). Participants completed self-report questionnaires before treatment and 6 and 12 months after treatment completion. Outcome measures included Hip disability and Osteoarthritis and Outcome Score (HOOS), Patient Specific Functional Scale and Numeric Pain Rating Scale for average and worst pain. Continuous data were analyzed with mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) within each group. Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) was analyzed using multinomial generalized estimating equations (GEE) with a cumulative logit. Reported p values are from statistical contrasts within the RM-ANOVAs and GEEs testing a priori hypotheses regarding change from pretest to month 6, and pretest to month 12. A total of 43/46 (93.5%) participants completed treatment, 40 (87.0%) completed 6 and 38 (82.6%) completed 12 month questionnaires. At 6 and 12 months, both groups demonstrated clinically significant improvements, compared to pretest, in all subscales of HOOS (p < 0.01), Patient Specific Functional Scale (p < 0.001), and NPRS (p < 0.0001). Among patients with chronic HRGP, both MoveTrain and Standard resulted in improved outcomes that were sustained 12 months after treatment. Further investigation in a larger sample is needed to confirm our findings.