A comparison of two different methods to treat hip pain in runners

Little or no research has been performed on the physical therapy treatment of hip pain. The purpose of this study was to compare two different treatments for hip pain. Twenty runners who had primary hip pain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, without evidence of arthritic changes, were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a mobilization technique to the involved hip, while the other was treated with a manipulative technique known to affect sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The subjects were evaluated by using a pain questionnaire and the Faber test to determine the response of the hip joint to treatment. Data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U statistic for perceived pain response and with the Chi-square statistic with Yates correction for the Faber test. Results showed a significant difference in perceived pain response, as well as reproduction of pain with the Faber test, between the two groups. The results suggest that a manipulative technique designed to reduce sacroiliac joint dysfunction is an effective method to reduce hip pain. Physical therapists should evaluate the sacroiliac joint in patients with hip pain.