Sound waves or needles? small trial pits two piriformis pain fixes Head-to-Head

NCT ID NCT07145554

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Gulhane Training and Research Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This completed study compared two treatments for piriformis syndrome, a condition causing buttock and leg pain. Forty adults whose pain lasted at least three months were randomly assigned to receive either five sessions of focused sound wave therapy or a single steroid injection. Researchers measured pain levels and quality of life to see which approach worked better.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: focal extracorporeal shock wave therapy and corticosteroid injection
What this could lead to: If one treatment proves clearly better, it could give doctors a more effective, non-surgical option for managing stubborn piriformis syndrome pain.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed trial with only 40 people, so results may not apply to everyone. Neither treatment is a cure, and some people may not improve.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

piriformis syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Gülhane Training and Research Hospital

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

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