HMN 2026: How Strength exercises improve young people’s hip pain

Physiotherapist-led strength exercises improve hip pain in young people suffering hip joint impingements, new research shows. The La Trobe University study followed 154 participants over six months, comparing a targeted strengthening program with a standardized stretching program. Participants in the strength group were 2.3 times more likely to report perceived improvements in pain and had larger improvements in hip muscle strength compared to participants in the stretch group.

The PhysioFIRST study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, is one of the first randomized controlled trials in the world comparing two physiotherapist-led treatments for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome.

Lead researcher Professor Joanne Kemp, an NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellow from La Trobe’s Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Center, said while both programs improved quality of life, targeted strengthening showed additional benefits. “Strengthening didn’t outperform stretching on overall quality of life, but it did lead to better pain outcomes and stronger hips, which could matter for long-term recovery,” Professor Kemp said.

FAI syndrome affects up to 40% of young adults with hip pain and can increase the risk by 47 times of developing osteoarthritis later in life.

All participants received six face-to-face physiotherapy consultations every fortnight and 12 supervised exercise sessions in the first three months. Following that, participants received a three-month gym membership to continue their unsupervised exercise program and three physiotherapy consultations.

Professor Kemp said the findings highlight a positive message for the benefits of exercise therapy for young people with FAI syndrome. “Many young people with hip pain are concerned they may need surgery,” Professor Kemp said. “Our findings show that physiotherapist-led care is a safe and effective first-line option, and for many younger people it may help them avoid or delay more invasive treatment.”

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