jospt perspectives for patients

Hip Pain
Dry Needling Versus Cortisone Injections
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(4):240. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.0504

G
reater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is chronic,
intermittent pain and tenderness on the outside of the
hip. Older names for this condition are greater tro-
chanteric bursitis or subgluteal bursitis. The medical
community once thought that a swollen hip bursa—a
fluid-filled sac that acts as a gliding surface to reduce friction be-
tween moving tissues in this joint—was the source of such pain.
Downloaded from www.jospt.org at on April 2, 2017. For personal use only. No other uses without permission.
This conclusion led to the use of corticosteroid injections to the
bursa to help decrease swelling and pain. However, researchers
now believe that injuries to the muscles and tendons around the
hip are the actual cause of this pain, and that inflammation is often
not involved. A study published in the April 2017 issue of JOSPT
explores dry needling as an alternative to cortisone injections to
reduce pain and improve function in patients with GTPS.

NEW INSIGHTS
An estimated 10% to 25% of people are diagnosed
with GTPS. The goal of this study was to determine
whether dry needling was as helpful as a
corticosteroid injection for patients with this kind of
Copyright © 2017 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®. All rights reserved.

hip pain. The researchers treated 50 painful hips.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either
the injection or dry needling. During the 6-week
study, the researchers measured the amount of pain
medication taken by both groups. No other forms
of treatment were provided. At the end of the study,
patients in both groups had the same results for pain
relief, ability to move and perform daily activities,
and medication use. Patients who went to physical
therapy for dry needling had the same outcomes as
those who received an injection.
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®

HIP PAIN AND DRY NEEDLING. Evidence indicates that greater trochanteric pain syndrome, chronic pain and tenderness
on the outside of the hip (shown in orange), can be treated effectively with physical therapy, and specifically with dry PRACTICAL ADVICE
needling to this area. Dry needling is as effective as cortisone injection in reducing pain and improving movement
problems caused by this condition. Patients often ask if they might try physical therapy
before receiving other treatments. The results of this
This JOSPT Perspectives for Patients is based on an article by Brennan et al, titled “Dry Needling Versus Cortisone study show that patients with GTPS can get similar
Injection in the Treatment of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial” results from dry needling as from a corticosteroid
(J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(4):232-239. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.6994). injection. Both groups experienced a decrease in
pain and an improved ability to move and complete
This Perspectives article was written by a team of JOSPT’s editorial board and staff. Deydre S. Teyhen, PT, PhD, Editor, daily activities. Because the outcomes were similar,
and Jeanne Robertson, Illustrator. dry needling may be a good option for those worried
about the potential side effects and risks of a steroid
injection, or who want to try a lower-risk treatment. If
you have been diagnosed with this condition, physical
therapy has evidence-based treatment options to help
you recover from it.
For this and more topics, visit JOSPT Perspectives for
Patients online at www.jospt.org.

JOSPT PERSPECTIVES FOR PATIENTS is a public service of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®. The information and recommendations
contained here are a summary of the referenced research article and are not a substitute for seeking proper health care to diagnose and treat this condition. For
more information on the management of this condition, contact your physical therapist or other health care provider specializing in musculoskeletal disorders.
JOSPT Perspectives for Patients may be photocopied noncommercially by physical therapists and other health care providers to share with patients. The
official journal of the Orthopaedic Section and the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and a recognized
journal of more than 35 international partners, JOSPT strives to offer high-quality research, immediately applicable clinical material, and useful supplemental
information on musculoskeletal and sports-related health, injury, and rehabilitation. Copyright ©2017 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy ®

240 | april 2017 | volume 47 | number 4 | journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy

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