Effectiveness of a structured physical therapist-led intervention compared to usual care in people with longstanding hip and groin pain referred to orthopaedic care in Sweden: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (the HIPSTER trial)

Introduction People with longstanding hip and groin pain (LHGP) are often referred to orthopaedic care. Physical therapist-led interventions are recommended in consensus statements as the first line of treatment, but it is unknown if structured interventions are more effective than usual care.

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured physical therapist-led treatment model (HIPSTER) compared with usual care on hip-related quality of life at 4 months for people with LHGP referred to orthopaedic care. Methods and analysis This is a preregistered (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05853640) study protocol for a double-blinded two-armed pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Patients with LHGP (n=122), referred to the Department of Orthopaedics at a university hospital in Sweden, will be randomised into the HIPSTER model or usual care. The HIPSTER model is a 16-week structured, individualised progressive treatment using exercise therapy and patient education.

Usual care consists of a recommendation to contact a physical therapist in primary care. Both groups will undergo standard examinations and a surgical consultation at the Department of Orthopaedics.