Table 1.

Manual therapy techniques: a semi-standardised approach

Manual therapy techniques
Technique	Aim	Description	Dosage	Timeframe
Soft tissue massage and trigger point release of iliopsoas, adductor group, gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, piriformis and tensor fascia latae	Address soft tissue restrictions with the aim of reducing pain and increasing hip joint range of movement	Sustained digital pressure to each trigger point, with the muscle positioned on stretch	30 - 60 seconds digital pressure per trigger point	Session 1 - 8
		Massage longitudinally along the muscle belly	2 - 5 minutes of massage per muscle
Mobilisation of lumbar spine	To improve lumbar spine mobility and restore normal lumbo-pelvic movement	Unilateral postero-anterior accessory glides, Grade III or IV	3 - 5 sets of 30 - 60 seconds	Session 1 - 8
Correction of sacro-iliac joint asymmetries	To optimise the position of the ilium and therefore the orientation of the acetabulum	Massage to iliopsoas	2 - 5 minutes of massage	Session 1 - 8
		Mobilisation of sacrum
Manual traction if ligamentum teres is intact or ligated and patient is >3 months post-labral repair	Increase hip flexion and/or IR/ER range of motion	Seatbelt around patient's proximal femur and therapist's hips. Gentle inferior and/or lateral traction force applied. May include patient actively moving hip into flexion as traction is applied	3 sets of 10 seconds. If tolerated, increase by 1 set per treatment session to a maximum of 6 sets in total	Session 1 - 8

Legend: IR = internal rotation; ER = external rotation.