Comparison of Joint Mobilization and Movement Pattern Training for Patients With Hip-Related Groin Pain: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.
Marcie Harris-Hayes, Patricia Zorn, Karen Steger-May and 5 others
PMID 37606253WHAT IT FOUND
This pilot trial found no significant difference between hip joint mobilization and movement pattern training for groin pain.
Both groups improved similarly, but the study was not powered to prove efficacy. It confirms a larger trial is feasible but offers no guidance on which treatment works better.
Key findings
01The primary purpose was to assess the feasibility of a larger trial, not to determine which treatment is more effective.
02After adjusting for baseline scores, there were no significant differences between the joint mobilization and movement pattern training groups in any outcome measure.
03Both treatment groups showed clinically important improvements in patient-reported pain and function scores from baseline to post-treatment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot designed for feasibility, not efficacy. It was not statistically powered to detect differences between the two treatments, so the lack of difference between groups does not prove they are equally effective. The sample size was small (29 completers) and demographically narrow (93% White, 79% female, all with college degrees), limiting generalizability. The study was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced recruitment and prevented six patients from completing laboratory testing. There was no control group receiving no treatment or a sham intervention, so it is impossible to know if the improvements seen in both groups were due to the specific techniques or natural recovery/placebo effects. Adherence to home exercises was self-reported, which can be inaccurate.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the NIH (Extramural) and non-US government sources. The funders played no role in study design, conduct, or reporting.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the null finding between groups as evidence that Joint Mobilization and Movement Pattern Training are equally effective treatments. The study was a pilot not powered to detect between-group differences, so it only shows that a larger trial is feasible, not which treatment works best.