Piriformis and Gluteal Muscle Thickness in Patients With Unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

NCT07510763 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AEŞH-BADEK1-2025-015
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate muscle thickness in patients with unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome using ultrasonography and to compare these findings with healthy individuals. The primary objective is to determine whether piriformis muscle thickness differs between patients and controls. Secondary objectives include assessing gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscle thickness, side-to-side differences in piriformis and gluteal muscle thickness, and the presence of Deep Gluteal Syndrome.

Conditions

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome; Deep Gluteal Syndrome; Gluteal Tendinopathy

Keywords

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome; Musculoskeletal Ultrasound; Deep Gluteal Syndrome; Hip Pain; Muscle Thickness; Piriformis Muscle; Gluteal Muscle Thickness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Piriformis Muscle Thickness

  Comparison of piriformis muscle thickness between patients with unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome and healthy controls using ultrasonography

  At baseline

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Maximus Muscle Thickness

  At baseline

• Side-to-Side Muscle Thickness Comparison

  At baseline

• Trochanteric Bursa and Doppler Findings

  At baseline

• Prevalence of Deep Gluteal Syndrome

  At baseline

• Correlation Between VISA-G Score and Hip Muscle Thickness Asymmetry

  At baseline

Study Arms (2)

GTPS Patients

Patients with unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome evaluated with ultrasonography

Healthy Controls

Healthy individuals without hip pain or known musculoskeletal disorders, evaluated using ultrasonography

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults with unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome and healthy individuals without hip pain or known musculoskeletal disorders are being recruited. Participants are evaluated using ultrasonography in an outpatient clinical setting.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Diagnosis of unilateral Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of lumbar radiculopathy
• Presence of hip or spinal osteoarthritis
• History of lumbar spine or lower extremity surgery
• Presence of neurological disorders affecting muscles or peripheral nerves
• Pregnancy
• Presence of cognitive impairment or neuropsychiatric conditions limiting participation
• Unwillingness to participate
• Regular participation in physical exercise (defined as more than two sessions per week)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara Etlik City Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Ankara, 06170, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Firat A, Veizi E, Karaman Y, Alkan H, Sahin A, Tolunay T, Kilicarslan K. Unrepaired Trochanteric Bursae as a Risk Factor for Deep Gluteal Syndrome After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. J Arthroplasty. 2024 Apr;39(4):1025-1030. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.10.049. Epub 2023 Nov 2.

  PMID: 37924993 BACKGROUND

• Othman IK, Raj NB, Siew Kuan C, Sidek S, Wong LS, Djearamane S, Loganathan A, Selvaraj S. Association of Piriformis Thickness, Hip Muscle Strength, and Low Back Pain Patients with and without Piriformis Syndrome in Malaysia. Life (Basel). 2023 May 18;13(5):1208. doi: 10.3390/life13051208.

  PMID: 37240853 BACKGROUND

• Whittaker JL, Emery CA. Sonographic measures of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and vastus medialis muscles. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Aug;44(8):627-32. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.5315. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

  PMID: 25029916 BACKGROUND

• Geler Kulcu D. Deep Gluteal syndrome: An underestimated cause of posterior hip pain. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Feb 1;70(1):4-16. doi: 10.5606/tftrd.2024.14668. eCollection 2024 Mar.

  PMID: 38549816 BACKGROUND

• Speers CJ, Bhogal GS. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a review of diagnosis and management in general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2017 Oct;67(663):479-480. doi: 10.3399/bjgp17X693041. No abstract available.

  PMID: 28963433 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hip socket neuropathy

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2026
• First Posted: April 3, 2026
• Study Start: December 2, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2026
• Study Completion: March 31, 2026
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations

TU (1)