When treating coexisting low back pain and hip impairments, focus on the back: Adding specific hip treatment does not yield additional benefits — A randomized controlled trial.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Dec;51(12):581-601. Burns SA, Cleland JA, Rivett DA, O’Hara MC, Egan W, Pandya J, Snodgrass SJ.

Purpose: To determine whether adding hip treatment to usual care for low back pain (LBP) improved disability and pain in individuals with LBP and a concurrent hip impairment.

Conclusion: Adding treatments aimed at the hip to usual low back physical therapy did not provide additional short- or long-term benefits in reducing disability and pain in individuals with LBP and a concurrent hip impairment. Clinicians may not need to include hip treatments to achieve reductions in low back disability and pain in individuals with LBP and a concurrent hip impairment.

See abstract.