ESWT versus conventional physical therapy for Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Conventional Physical Therapy in Patients With Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
This trial will try Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) against usual physical therapy to see which reduces pain and improves function in adults with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Trial ID | NCT07243327 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 60 adults aged 18–65 with MRI-confirmed Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome and allocate them 1:1 to ESWT or conventional physical therapy. The ESWT arm receives five sessions over three weeks (15 Hz, 3 bar, 2000 pulses) while the physical therapy arm receives ten sessions of TENS, hot pack, and continuous ultrasound; both groups follow a standardized exercise program. Outcomes include pain (VAS), hip function (Harris Hip Score), lower extremity function (LEFS), and a Global Rating of Change measured at baseline, week 3, and week 12. The primary aim is to see which treatment produces greater short-term pain relief, with secondary analyses of functional improvement.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18–65 with lateral hip pain for at least 3 months and MRI-confirmed GTPS who can attend clinic visits and follow the exercise program are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with hip tendon tears, recent hip infection or trauma, lumbar radiculopathy or prior lumbar surgery, recent corticosteroid injection to the hip, active systemic inflammatory disease, active malignancy, or cognitive impairment are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ESWT could provide faster or greater pain relief and improved hip function than conventional physical therapy for people with GTPS.
How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized trials and case series of ESWT for gluteal tendinopathy have generally shown favorable outcomes compared with sham or conservative care, though results have varied across studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Lateral hip pain for at least 3 months * Ability to understand study procedures and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Hip deformities * Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, or piriformis tendon tears * Lumbar radiculopathy or history of lumbar spine surgery * Recent trauma or active infection in the hip region * Corticosteroid injection to the hip within the last 6 months * Neurological, psychiatric, or rheumatologic diseases * Active malignancy or systemic inflammatory disease * Cognitive impairment preventing cooperation
Where this trial is running
Istanbul
- Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zeynep Karakuzu Güngör — Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zeynep Karakuzu Güngör, M.D
- Email: zeynepkarakuzu@hotmail.com.tr
- Phone: +90 507 775 03 75
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.