Ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis combined with exercise for hip impingement
Effectiveness of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Combined With Therapeutic Exercise in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: a Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial.
This will test whether adding ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis to a home exercise program helps adults 18–55 with anterior hip pain from femoroacetabular impingement reduce pain and improve hip function.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CEU San Pablo University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Alcobendas, Madrid) |
| Trial ID | NCT07548034 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot randomized parallel-group trial will assign adults with anterior hip pain compatible with femoroacetabular impingement to either two sessions of ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis plus a standardized home exercise program or the same home exercise program alone, with electrolysis sessions one week apart. The home program emphasizes hip mobility, gluteal strengthening, core stability, and controlled hip flexor activation. Pain intensity during provocative tests, hip range of motion, and hip function will be measured at baseline, after one week, and after four weeks, and adverse events will be recorded. The intervention period is five weeks and the trial is designed to provide preliminary evidence of added benefit and safety.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–55 with at least three months of anterior (inguinal) hip pain, a pain score ≥4 on a provocative test, positive clinical impingement tests (e.g., FADIR), and ultrasound findings compatible with pseudofibrotic tissue near the iliopsoas tendon.
Not a fit: Patients with prior hip surgery, moderate-to-severe radiographic hip osteoarthritis, neurological or dominant lumbar spine pathology, active systemic inflammatory disease, contraindications to percutaneous electrolysis, or severe needle phobia are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding percutaneous electrolysis could reduce anterior hip pain and speed functional recovery beyond exercise alone.
How similar studies have performed: Small case series and non-randomized studies suggest percutaneous electrolysis can help some tendinopathies, but randomized evidence for femoroacetabular impingement is limited, making this application relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Anterior hip pain (inguinal region) lasting more than 3 months * Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score ≥ 4/10 during at least one provocative test * Positive result in at least one of the following clinical tests: Straight Leg Raise (SLR), Flexion-Adduction-Internal Rotation (FADIR), or Hip-External Rotation-Flexion-Ceiling (HEC) * Ultrasound findings compatible with pseudofibrotic tissue near the iliopsoas tendon at the anterosuperior acetabular recess * Age between 18 and 55 years * Able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Previous hip surgery * Moderate or severe hip osteoarthritis (diagnosed radiographically) * Neurological pathology affecting the lower limb * Dominant lumbar spine pathology * Active rheumatic or systemic inflammatory diseases * Any contraindication to percutaneous electrolysis * Belonephobia
Where this trial is running
Alcobendas, Madrid
- Fisioterapia La Moraleja — Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Guillermo Gallardo Lopez — CEU SP University
- Study coordinator: Guillermo Gallardo López
- Email: guillermo.gallardolopez@usp.ceu.es
- Phone: +34656769214
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.