Laser or shockwave: which eases piriformis pain best?
NCT ID NCT07567703
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two non-drug treatments for piriformis syndrome, a condition where a muscle in the buttock presses on a nerve, causing pain. Seventy adults received either low-level laser therapy or radial shockwave therapy, both combined with exercise, over four weeks. Researchers measured pain, movement, disability, 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
- Low-level laser therapy and radial shockwave therapy, each combined with therapeutic exercise
- What this could lead to
- If one therapy proves clearly better, it could become a preferred non-drug option for easing piriformis syndrome pain and improving mobility.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with 70 people, so results may not apply to everyone. Both treatments are generally safe but may not work for all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
70 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Oct 2025
- Finished
-
Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 65 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 65 years who had a confirmed diagnosis of piriformis syndrome. piriformis syndrome required a positive FAIR test and EMG evidence of sciatic nerve involvement. Eligible participants had chronic symptoms lasting at least three months and a baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score of ≥4. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants were excluded if they had a history of surgical interventions involving the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joint, or hip; systemic inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis; neurological disorders impairing lower limb function; or were pregnant or lactating. Individuals with malignancy, bleeding disorders, or pacemaker implantation
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Piriformis syndrome are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Outpatient clinics of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni Suef University
Cairo, Egypt
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a fluid injection between muscle layers ease piriformis pain?
- Can targeted muscle techniques outperform standard therapy for piriformis pain?
- Flat feet may be tied to a common cause of hip pain, study suggests
- Massage vs stretch: which eases piriformis pain better?
- Gentle muscle moves may ease piriformis pain – which works best?
- Which manual therapy eases piriformis pain better? small study pits stretch vs. release