An indirect evaluation between corticosteroid injections and gluteal exercises in the management of pain in greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Introduction Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is an umbrella term used to describe several pathologies contributing to lateral hip pain. The most prevalent pathology is gluteal tendinopathy. Conservative management of GTPS is predominantly now focused on the use of corticosteroid injections (CSIs) and gluteal exercises.Aim To compare CSIs and gluteal exercises on pain in adults with GTPS.Method A systematic search of AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, TRIP and the Cochrane Library was conducted from inception to January 2021. Critical appraisal was completed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Data were extracted to obtain population characteristics and procedural details.Results Seven articles met the eligibility criteria out of a total of 336; five articles were randomised control trials (RCT) and two were cohort studies, equivalent to 758 and 70 participants, respectively. Studies generally reported significant benefits of CSIs <12 weeks and gluteal exercises >8 weeks for the reduction in lateral hip pain (p < .05). Critical appraisal demonstrated varied study quality and significant heterogeneity.Conclusion CSIs appear to be a successful treatment intervention in the short-term to decrease lateral hip pain but not in the long-term. Gluteal exercises plus education on avoiding tendon compression appears to be as successful as CSIs in the short and superior in the long-term.