Ultrasound-guided Needle Percutaneous Electrolysis With Therapeutic Exercise in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
Effectiveness of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Combined With Therapeutic Exercise in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: a Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial.
CEU San Pablo University
30 participants
Apr 22, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Hip pain in the front of the hip is common and can make daily activities and sports difficult. One frequent cause is femoroacetabular impingement, also known as hip impingement. This clinical trial is studying whether adding ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis - a minimally invasive physiotherapy technique that uses a fine needle and a small electrical current - to a program of specific exercises works better than doing the exercises alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: * One group will receive two sessions of percutaneous electrolysis plus a home exercise program. * The other group will follow the same home exercise program without percutaneous electrolysis. The study will last five weeks. Researchers will measure pain, hip movement, and hip function at the beginning, after one week, and after four weeks. They will also record any side effects. The main goal is to find out if adding percutaneous electrolysis helps reduce hip pain and improve function more than exercise alone. This pilot study will help determine if this technique could be a safe and effective non-surgical treatment option for people with pain in the front of the hip.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- 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 Criteria7
- 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
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Interventions
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle electrolysis will be applied to the iliopsoas region targeting hyperechoic fibrotic tissue near the anterior hip joint. The procedure will be performed using a sterile needle under real-time ultrasound guidance with a long-axis in-plane approach from lateral to medial. Electrical current will be delivered with parameters of 2.5 mA for 3 seconds, with a total of 3 applications per session. Two sessions will be performed, one at baseline and one after 7 days. The intervention will be carried out by a physiotherapist with specific training in invasive techniques.
Participants will perform a home-based therapeutic exercise program focused on lumbopelvic stability, hip strength, and controlled mobility. Exercises include glute bridge, bird dog, isometric hip flexion, and controlled hip flexion mobility. The program consists of 3 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise, performed 3 to 4 times per week over a 4-week period. Exercises will be performed within pain-free ranges and adjusted according to individual tolerance. Initial instruction will be provided by a physiotherapist, with follow-up supervision at one week and four weeks.
Locations(1)
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NCT07548034