Education and exercise program for hip and groin pain relief

Patients With Longstanding HIP and Groin Pain Referred to Orthopedic Care: Effectiveness of Education and exerciSe ThERapy (HIPSTER)

NA · Lund University · NCT05853640

This study is testing a new education and exercise program for people with long-term hip and groin pain to see if it helps them feel better compared to regular care.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment122 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 55 Years
SexAll
SponsorLund University (other)
Locations1 site (Malmö)
Trial IDNCT05853640 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured physical therapist-led intervention, known as the HIPSTER model, compared to usual care for patients suffering from longstanding hip and groin pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive standard orthopedic care or the HIPSTER intervention, which includes personalized education and exercise therapy. The primary focus is on improving hip-related quality of life, with secondary outcomes assessing physical activity, pain management, and overall treatment cost-effectiveness. The study will measure changes in self-reported function and quality of life over a four-month period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men and women aged 18-55 who have been referred to orthopedics due to activity-related hip and groin pain lasting more than three months.

Not a fit: Patients with acute traumatic hip injuries, severe osteoarthritis, or other significant comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve the quality of life for patients with longstanding hip and groin pain.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown positive outcomes with structured physical therapy interventions for similar conditions, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women aged 18-55 years
* Referred to the Dept of Orthopedics due to hip and/or groin pain
* Activity-related unilateral or bilateral groin pain \>3 months
* Pain reproduced with the FADIR test.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Groin pain originating from any diagnosis with other treatment pathways, i.e., i) Acute traumatic hip injuries (such as hip dislocation, hip fractures); ii) Verified moderate or severe OA (Tönnis grade \>1); iii) Palpable hernia; iv) Low-back pain with a positive straight leg raise test and/or hip and groin pain provoked primarily by repeated motions of the lumbar spine; v) Sacroiliac joint pain with thigh thrust test.
* Co-morbidities potentially interfering with treatment, i.e., i) Co-morbidities overriding the hip and groin-related symptoms and dysfunction (such as other acute lower limb injuries, rheumatoid arthritis etc), ii) Co-morbidities prohibiting physical activity and training (heart disease etc), iii) Current psycho-social disorders requiring treatment.
* Other: i) History of drug abuse within the last year; ii) Not understanding the language of interest (Scandinavian languages, or English).

Where this trial is running

Malmö

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Hip Pain Chronic, Femoro Acetabular Impingement, Groin Injury, Hip-related pain, Longstanding hip and groin pain, Exercise therapy, Rehabilitation

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.