Astym® Treatment as a Method rf Rehabilitation in an Individual with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: A Case Report

Background/purpose: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a tendinopathy of the gluteus medius tendon accompanied by pain upon palpation in the area of the greater trochanter of the femur. It has been associated with lower levels of full-time employment, significant pain,, and lower quality of life and it occurs in approximately two percent of people in the primary care setting. However, there is no evidence-based protocol in treating GTPS. ASTYM® is a technique which has evidence supporting its use in treating chronic tendon impairments, but no formal research is available in its treatment of GTPS. Thus, the purpose of this case report was to report on the use of ASTYM ® and stretching and strengthening in treating GTPS. Case Description: The individual was a 52-year-old female with symptoms indicative of GTPS, with an insidious onset beginning four to five months prior. She had complaints of constant pain with worsening symptoms. Outcomes: The individual attended 11 total physical therapy visits, but demonstrated no clinically significant improvements in function or pain as measured by the Lower Extremity Functional Scale and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, respectively. The individual verbalized improvement in her symptoms and her gait mechanics demonstrated improvement. Discussion: Limited improvement in quantitative measures suggests ASTYM® was an ineffective treatment. Improvement in the individual’s gait mechanics and in her qualitative report could indicate otherwise. Further research on the use of ASTYM® in treating GTPS should occur before it is concluded ineffective in treating GTPS