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Enrolling by invitation

NCT Number: NCT07790705

Percussive vs. Gentle Massage for Recovery After Hip Replacement

Many people who have hip replacement surgery through a "bikini incision" on the front of the hip (anterior approach) develop numbness, tingling, burning, or tightness in the front and side of the thigh afterward. This happens because a small nerve near the incision can get irritated during surgery. For most patients these symptoms fade over time, but for some they can last for months or longer.

This study is testing whether a simple, at-home self-care routine can help these symptoms improve faster. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will use a handheld percussive massage device (like a massage gun) on the thigh twice a day, and the other group will do gentle hand massage on the same areas, for the same amount of time, twice a day. Both routines take about 5 minutes and are done every day for 6 weeks after surgery. Neither device use nor massage is applied directly on or near the surgical incision.

The researchers want to find out whether the massage device works better than gentle hand massage for improving hip pain and function, reducing numbness and tingling, and improving sleep and comfort during recovery. Participants will complete short questionnaires and daily logs, with follow-up visits at 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Paresthesia Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty Femoral Neuropathy Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Injury Mononeuropathies Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Postoperative Complications Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms Somatosensory Disorders Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Total Joint Specialists

Cumming, Georgia, 30041, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 years or older at the time of surgery
  • Scheduled for primary unilateral elective anterior total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, or inflammatory arthritis
  • Sufficient upper extremity strength and hand dexterity to perform either intervention independently, OR a reliable caregiver willing and able to assist with sessions throughout the 6-week period
  • Able to provide written informed consent
  • Willing and able to perform twice-daily sessions, maintain a daily log, and attend follow-up visits at Week 6 and Month 3
  • Body mass index (BMI) less than 40 kg/m²

Exclusion criteria

  • Revision arthroplasty or prior ipsilateral hip surgery
  • Pre-existing neurological condition affecting the ipsilateral anterior or lateral thigh, including peripheral neuropathy, lumbar L2-L4 radiculopathy, meralgia paresthetica, or diabetic amyotrophy
  • Confirmed or history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
  • Active wound infection, breakdown, dehiscence, or open incision at any treatment session timepoint
  • Coagulopathy, bleeding disorder, or supratherapeutic anticoagulation at time of enrollment
  • Active malignancy involving the hip or ipsilateral femur
  • Concurrent enrollment in another interventional trial
  • Significant cognitive impairment precluding safe self-administration or valid patient-reported outcome completion
  • Anticipated contralateral total hip arthroplasty within the 3-month follow-up window

Treatment and study plan

Percussive Massage Therapy (Toloco or Hyperice Hypervolt GO 2)

Device

A handheld percussive massage device (30 Hz frequency, medium amplitude, ball-head attachment) is self-applied to the anterior and lateral thigh in slow, overlapping longitudinal strokes, using device weight only with no added downward pressure. Sessions are performed twice daily (morning and evening) for 5 minutes total (2.5 minutes per anatomical zone), beginning postoperative day 1 and continuing through 6 weeks, maintaining a 2-inch exclusion margin from the surgical incision at all times.

Other names: Massage gun therapy, vibration percussion therapy

Gentle Manual Massage

Other

Gentle massage is self-applied to the anterior and lateral thigh using the flat palm and fingers of the hand in slow, overlapping longitudinal strokes, using hand weight only with no added pressure. Sessions are performed twice daily (morning and evening) for 5 minutes total (2.5 minutes per anatomical zone), beginning postoperative day 1 and continuing through 6 weeks, maintaining a 2-inch exclusion margin from the surgical incision at all times.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Oxford Hip Score (OHS) from Baseline to Week 6

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-operative) and Week 6 postoperatively

    The OHS is a 12-item, hip-specific patient-reported outcome measure assessing pain and function, including pain at rest and with activity, walking distance, and ability to perform activities of daily living. Each item is scored 0-4; total scores range from 0 (worst) to 48 (best), with higher scores indicating better hip function and less pain. Between-group difference at Week 6 will be adjusted for baseline score, sex, and BMI category.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) from Baseline to Week 6 and Month 3

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Month 3

    Joint awareness during daily and recreational activities, measured by the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12). Scores are normalized from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater joint unawareness (a better outcome). Compared between the percussive massage therapy (PMT) and manual massage groups.

  2. Change in Numeric Rating Pain Scale (NRPS) Score

    Time frame: Postoperative Day 1, Postoperative Day 14, Week 6, Month 3

    Anterior thigh pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRPS), an 11-point scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse (greater) pain. Compared between the PMT and manual massage groups.

  3. Paresthesia Severity Scale (PSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Month 3, Year 1

    Anterior thigh paresthesia burden measured by the Paresthesia Severity Scale (PSS), a composite of two 0-10 subscales (severity and frequency of numbness, tingling, and burning), for a total range of 0 to 20. Higher scores indicate worse (greater) paresthesia burden. Compared between the PMT and manual massage groups.

  4. Numbness Body Diagram (Percent Thigh Area Affected)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Month 3, Year 1

    Distribution and resolution of anterior thigh numbness, mapped on a standardized body diagram and digitized to yield the percent of total anterior thigh surface area affected, ranging from 0% to 100%. Higher percentages indicate worse (more extensive) numbness. Compared between the PMT and manual massage groups.

  5. Anterior Thigh Stiffness (Visual Analog Scale, VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Month 3, Year 1

    Anterior thigh stiffness measured by a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 to 10, with higher values indication worse/more stiffness.

  6. PROMIS Sleep Disturbance - Short Form 8a

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Month 3, Year 1

    Sleep disturbance measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8a, an 8-item instrument scored as a T-score (population mean 50, SD 10), with higher scores indicating greater sleep disturbance (a worse outcome).

Interested in participating?

Enrolling by invitation

Interested in participating?

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Zachary M Ricciardelli

Network

Collaborators

  • Total Joint Specialists

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Self-Administered Percussive Massage Therapy Versus Gentle Manual Massage to the Thigh Following Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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