Dynamic lycra garments for hip dysplasia: feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A single centre, feasibility study using Dynamic Lycra Garments to address pain and instability associated with Hip Dysplasia
IRAS ID
342748
Contact name
Jim Ashworth-Beaumont
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 7 days
Research summary
The RNOH Adult Hip service treats many patients with hypermobility and hip dysplasia, the burden of both conditions including joint pain and instability affecting function and quality of life. Evidence suggests a highly significant association between these conditions.
Dynamic lycra garments are deployed in rehabilitation and exercise to support unstable areas of the body, enhance sensory feedback to improve movement patterns, reduce fatigue and pain and improve function.
2 case studies have respectively highlighted the effective use of postural correction to reduce hip pain in an adult with acetabular dysplasia while lycra orthoses have reduced pain and improved stability in the hip. Larger scale studies assessing the effect of lycra garments across a clinical population of those presenting with combined hypermobility and hip dysplasia are needed to investigate the extent of generalisable effects.
The research question underpinning the project is as follows,“Can the use of dynamic compression shorts during daily activities improve short term treatment outcomes in hip dysplasia patients?”.
This feasibility study will assess prevalence of hip dysplasia and hypermobility, refine the research protocol and measures, identify any complications of garment use, establish compliance and feedback on aspects of experience; gathering early evidence of effect and establish potential for future interventional study.
The intention of this study is primarily to establish the practicality of studying these effect of the garments over the period of a study and assess the justification for further quantitative study, rather than the adjunctive effect of the shorts themselves.
The findings will inform the development of a study design which can more fully establish the generalisable degree to which this intervention can deliver effective relief from pain and disability for patients with hypermobility and hip dysplasia.
We are aiming to recruit 8-12 participant with the aim of gathering chiefly qualitative outcomes. The research activities will be carried out within the Hip specialist clinic environment at the Trust Stanmore site. Prospective participants will be screened for inclusion by medical staff and then provided with a Patient Information Sheet, following which patients will be invited to a baseline measurement session with the research therapist. This feasibility study is not intended to be blinded.REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
25/WA/0345
Date of REC Opinion
25 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion