Factors Associated With Dynamic Balance in Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

Kinesiophobia, pain, and physical function may be associated with dynamic balance in individuals with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) and may be key factors to consider when treating patients with this condition, according to a study published in Pain Medicine.

A total of 51 patients with GTPS who were treated at a physical therapy unit in a primary health care center were enrolled. The researchers assessed dynamic balance using the Y-Balance Test. Pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, pain intensity, disability, and self-efficacy were evaluated using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively.

In this cohort, a negative association was established between scores on the Y-Balance Test and the average VAS score. Negative associations were also established between the Y-Balance Test and the helplessness subscale of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale as well as between the pain and function subscales and total score of the WOMAC. In addition, there was a positive association between the Y-Balance Test and the Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale pain subscale. The VAS average score was found to predict the Y-Balance Test forward movement scores with a 38.1% of variance, and the VAS average score was found to predict the WOMAC total score and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia total score with a 34.2% of variance and a 43.8% of variance, respectively.

The lack of a control group and the nonprobability sampling method are study limitations.

“[Results from this study suggest that] physical function and psychosocial variables such as catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and self-efficacy should be taken into account in addition to pain management when diagnosing and treating subjects [with] GTPS,” concluded the investigators.

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Reference

Ferrer-Peña R, Moreno-López M, Calvo-Lobo C, López-de-Uralde-Villanueva I, Fernández-Carnero J. Relationship of dynamic balance impairment with pain-related and psychosocial measures in primary care patients with chronic greater trochanteric pain syndrome [published online August 22, 2018]. Pain Med. doi: 10.1093/pm/pny160