Personal factors and baseline function in patients undergoing non-operative management for chronic hip-related groin pain: a cross-sectional study

Aim Little is known about the relationship between personal factors and perception of hip-related function among patients with chronic hip-related groin pain (HRGP) seeking non-operative management. This analysis was performed to determine if depressive symptoms, central sensitisation, movement evoked pain (MEP), pressure hypersensitivity and activity level were associated with patients’ perception of hip-related function, represented by the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33). Methods This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a pilot randomised clinical trial. Participants had anterior hip symptoms for at least 3 of the past 12 months reproduced on examination. Depressive symptoms, central sensitisation and activity level were quantified with self-report questionnaires. MEP was assessed during step down and squat. Pain pressure threshold (PPT) was used to assess pressure hypersensitivity. Statistical analysis was performed to assess bivariate association between variables and independent association of variables with iHOT-33. Results Data from 33 participants (aged 18–40 years) with HRGP were analysed. Greater depressive symptoms (r_s=-0.48, p=0.005), higher MEP during step down (r_s=-0.36, p=0.040) and squat (r_s=-0.39, p=0.024), and greater central sensitisation (r_s=-0.33, p=0.058) were associated with lower (worse) iHOT-33 scores. Greater depressive symptoms (β=-0.47, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.17; p=0.003) and higher MEP during squat (β=-0.38, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.08; p=0.014) accounted for 37% of variability in iHOT-33. After adjusting for depressive symptoms and MEP, PPT, central sensitisation symptoms and activity level were not associated iHOT-33. Conclusions In patients with HRGP seeking nonoperative management, greater depressive symptoms and MEP are independently associated with worse self-perceived hip function.