Exercise Rehabilitation for Hip-related Pain and Dysfunction in Student Circus Arts Performers

Exercise Rehabilitation for Hip-related Pain and Dysfunction in Full Time Student Circus Arts Performers: a Pilot Trial

Hip injuries are reported to account for 71% and 29% of all injuries reported in female and male performers, respectively, at the National Institute of Circus Arts. There are no reports on hip pathology in circus performers, nor are there any reported exercise interventions for hip pain in circus performers.

This study aims to:

To assess the effect of an exercise rehabilitation program on patient-reported outcome measures, hip strength and range of movement, and functional assessments in circus arts students with clinically and radiologically diagnosed hip pain-related disorders.

Participants will undertake a 12-week strength exercise protocol that has been specifically designed to focus on hip rehabilitation appropriate for circus performance. Expected outcome: Improvements in patient reported outcome measure (PROM) scores and an increase in function, strength and hip range of movement in people with hip pain

Inclusion Criteria:

• 3-month history hip/groin pain +/- symptoms including clicking, giving way, locking, or catching, one or more of a positive
• positive FADIR pain provocation test
• positive HEER test (hip extension and external rotation)
• positive prone instability test
• imaging to support a pathological hip (e.g., CAM morphology, hip dysplasia)

Exclusion Criteria:

• OA degree >1 on classification of Tönnis
• Centre Edge-angle <10 degrees
• Legg-Calvé-Perthes or epiphysiolysis
• history of hip joint surgery or significant hip trauma (fracture +/- dislocation)
• neurologic motor deficit (lower limb power, strength or reflex deficit)
• hip pain from a lumbar origin (positive passive straight leg raise, combined lumbar extension and rotation)
• connective tissue disorder (e.g., Ehlers-danlos or Marfan syndrome)
• pregnancy or breastfeeding.