Quadriceps Strengthening At Different Angles in Patellofemoral Pain

NCT ID: NCT06502795

Last Updated: 2024-10-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

110 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-10-26

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is characterized by anterior, retropatellar and/or peripatellar pain during activities such as running, squatting, kneeling, or prolonged sitting. This condition affects approximately 25% of the general population. Given its complex and multifactorial etiology, PFP presents a significant treatment challenge. All clinical practice guidelines recommend strengthening the quadriceps femoris muscle as a key component in the management of PFP. However, exercises aimed at strengthening the quadriceps place considerable stress on the patellofemoral joint and are often poorly tolerated by patients. Clinicians commonly employ a conservative strategy that restricts open kinetic chain knee extension exercises to a limited range of 90° to 45° of knee flexion and closed kinetic chain exercises to 0° to 45°. Yet, restricting the range of motion may result in suboptimal outcomes for patients with higher load tolerance and may foster beliefs regarding knee joint fragility.

Objective: We aim to compare the effects of quadriceps femoris strengthening within a limited range to a patient-guided range of motion on pain, function, knee confidence, and kinesiophobia in individuals with PFP.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with two parallel groups, using a balanced 1:1 allocation and a double-blind design. The study population will include men and women aged 18 to 35 years, diagnosed with PFP. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the limited range group or the patient-guided range of motion group. They will participate in a supervised therapeutic protocol, with sessions averaging 40 minutes, twice a week, for six consecutive weeks. The primary outcome will be pain, assessed using the numerical pain rating scale (0-10), and kinesiophobia, assessed by the Tampa Scale . Secondary outcomes will include pain, self-reported function, measured by the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), perceived improvement by the Global Rating of Change Scale, quadriceps strength, kinesiophobia and analgesic consumption.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Participants with patellofemoral pain will be randomized into two intervention groups. All participants will start with a warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by dynamic stretching exercises targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, adductors, and abductors.

Open kinetic chain exercises will be performed using a leg extension machine, while closed kinetic chain exercises will include free squats and Bulgarian squats.

The Limited-RoM Quadriceps Strengthening group will perform open-kinetic-chain quadriceps strengthening exercises within a range of 90° to 45° of knee flexion and closed-kinetic-chain within a range of 0° to 45°.

The Patient-Guided-RoM Quadriceps Strengthening group will perform quadriceps strengthening exercises in both open and closed kinetic chains to the maximum tolerated by the patient based on their symptoms. The patient-guided maximum range of motion will be adjusted based on pain intensity, comfort, and patient response, following a shared decision-making approach with a clinician. The goal will be to maintain exercises at the greatest possible range of motion.

The identification of the patient-guided angle in both open and closed kinetic chain exercises will be determined as follows: the patient will perform 10 maximum repetitions on the leg with PFP, prioritizing range of motion over load. During the execution, the range of motion and load will be guided by the numerical pain rating scale and the perceived exertion scale.

Participants will complete 12 sessions, twice a week, supervised by a physiotherapist. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, six weeks, and six months, evaluating pain, function, kinesiophobia, crepitus, perception of effect, and weekly pain-killer consumption.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a randomized clinical trial with two parallel groups, balanced 1:1 allocation, and double-blind design.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
The randomization process will be conducted by a researcher not involved in data collection, using computer-generated random numbers from the Random Allocation Software (version 2.0), in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization codes will be placed in opaque, sequentially numbered envelopes, sealed with a tamper-proof seal, and will be opened only after the envelope has been irreversibly assigned to the participant. The evaluator and the patient will be blinded to the allocation in the experimental and control groups. At the end of the intervention, a masking test will be conducted.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Limited Range of Motion Quadriceps Strengthening group

The Limited-RoM Quadriceps Strengthening group will perform open-kinetic-chain quadriceps strengthening exercises within a range of 90° to 45° of knee flexion and closed-kinetic-chain within a range of 0° to 45°.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Protected Range Quadriceps Strengthening group

Intervention Type OTHER

Warm-up: Start with 5 minutes of stationary biking. Then, proceed with two sets of 30-second dynamic stretches targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, and adductors, followed by static stretching for the abductors.

Strengthening: Complete 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for each exercise, aiming for a perceived effort level on the Borg scale between 60% and 80%. Increase the load by 2%-10% when the patient can perform 14 or more repetitions in the final set while maintaining the Borg scale between 60% and 80%.

For the Leg Extension Machine, maintain a range of motion between 90 to 45 degrees. During Squats and Bulgarian Squats, aim for a range of motion between 0 to 45 degrees.

Patient-Guided Range of Motion Quadriceps Strengthening group

The Patient-Guided-RoM Quadriceps Strengthening group will perform quadriceps strengthening exercises in both open and closed kinetic chains to the maximum tolerated by the patient based on their symptoms. The patient-guided maximum range of motion will be adjusted based on pain intensity, comfort, and patient response, following a shared decision-making approach with a clinician. The goal will be to maintain exercises at the greatest possible range of motion.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Patient-Guided Range Quadriceps Strengthening group

Intervention Type OTHER

Warm-up: 5 minutes of stationary biking. Next, perform two sets of 30-second stretches for the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, adductors and abductors hip.

Strengthening: Patients will complete 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions for each exercise, aiming for a perceived effort level of 60% to 80% on the Borg scale. Load will be increased by 2% to 10% when patients can complete 14 or more repetitions in the final set while maintaining the Borg scale between 60% and 80%.

Quadriceps strengthening will be performed at the patient's maximum range guided by symptoms, with pain intensity capped at 5 points on the NPRS. The patient-guided range will be adjusted based on pain intensity, comfort, and patient response, using a shared decision-making approach. The goal is to maintain exercises at the maximum possible range of motion.

For the Leg Extension Machine, Squats, and Bulgarian Squats, the range of motion will be guided by the patient's pain tolerance.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Protected Range Quadriceps Strengthening group

Warm-up: Start with 5 minutes of stationary biking. Then, proceed with two sets of 30-second dynamic stretches targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, and adductors, followed by static stretching for the abductors.

Strengthening: Complete 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for each exercise, aiming for a perceived effort level on the Borg scale between 60% and 80%. Increase the load by 2%-10% when the patient can perform 14 or more repetitions in the final set while maintaining the Borg scale between 60% and 80%.

For the Leg Extension Machine, maintain a range of motion between 90 to 45 degrees. During Squats and Bulgarian Squats, aim for a range of motion between 0 to 45 degrees.

Intervention Type OTHER

Patient-Guided Range Quadriceps Strengthening group

Warm-up: 5 minutes of stationary biking. Next, perform two sets of 30-second stretches for the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, adductors and abductors hip.

Strengthening: Patients will complete 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions for each exercise, aiming for a perceived effort level of 60% to 80% on the Borg scale. Load will be increased by 2% to 10% when patients can complete 14 or more repetitions in the final set while maintaining the Borg scale between 60% and 80%.

Quadriceps strengthening will be performed at the patient's maximum range guided by symptoms, with pain intensity capped at 5 points on the NPRS. The patient-guided range will be adjusted based on pain intensity, comfort, and patient response, using a shared decision-making approach. The goal is to maintain exercises at the maximum possible range of motion.

For the Leg Extension Machine, Squats, and Bulgarian Squats, the range of motion will be guided by the patient's pain tolerance.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Individuals aged between 18 and 35 years.
* Diagnosis of patellofemoral pain characterized by peri- or retropatellar pain.
* Pain reproduced in at least two of the following activities: ascending or descending stairs, squatting, kneeling, prolonged sitting, jumping, running, or palpation of the medial and/or lateral facets of the patella.
* Insidious onset of symptoms.
* Symptoms duration of at least three months.
* Minimum score of three on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) in the past week.
* Maximum score of 86 points on the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS)
* In cases of bilateral pain, the more symptomatic knee will be included.

Exclusion Criteria

* History of surgery and/or fractures in the lower limb joints.
* Other knee joint-related injuries such as meniscal tears, ligament injuries.
* History of patellar subluxation or dislocation.
* Signs of osteoarthritis.
* Patellar and quadriceps tendinopathy.
* Osgood-Schlatter syndrome.
* Presence of knee joint edema.
* Contraindications to resistance exercises informed by a physician.
* Corticosteroid injection within the last 6 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Universidade Federal do Ceara

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Gabriel Peixoto Leão Almeida

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Physiotherapy Department, Federal University of Ceará

Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Brazil

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Gabriel Almeida, DSc

Role: CONTACT

+55(85)999590400

Ana Karine S Nunes, PT

Role: CONTACT

+55(85)988302157

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Gabriel PL Almeida, PhD

Role: primary

+55 (85) 3366 8091

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Almeida GPL, Rodrigues HLDN, Coelho BAL, Rodrigues CAS, Lima POP. Anteromedial versus posterolateral hip musculature strengthening with dose-controlled in women with patellofemoral pain: A randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 May;49:149-156. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.016. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33689989 (View on PubMed)

Collins NJ, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Crossley KM, van Linschoten RL, Vicenzino B, van Middelkoop M. Prognostic factors for patellofemoral pain: a multicentre observational analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2013 Mar;47(4):227-33. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091696. Epub 2012 Dec 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23242955 (View on PubMed)

Collins NJ, Barton CJ, van Middelkoop M, Callaghan MJ, Rathleff MS, Vicenzino BT, Davis IS, Powers CM, Macri EM, Hart HF, de Oliveira Silva D, Crossley KM. 2018 Consensus statement on exercise therapy and physical interventions (orthoses, taping and manual therapy) to treat patellofemoral pain: recommendations from the 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia, 2017. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Sep;52(18):1170-1178. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099397. Epub 2018 Jun 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29925502 (View on PubMed)

Crossley KM, Bennell KL, Cowan SM, Green S. Analysis of outcome measures for persons with patellofemoral pain: which are reliable and valid? Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 May;85(5):815-22. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(03)00613-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15129407 (View on PubMed)

da Cunha RA, Costa LO, Hespanhol Junior LC, Pires RS, Kujala UM, Lopes AD. Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and clinimetric testing of instruments used to assess patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome in the Brazilian population. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013 May;43(5):332-9. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2013.4228. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23485881 (View on PubMed)

Escamilla RF, Fleisig GS, Zheng N, Barrentine SW, Wilk KE, Andrews JR. Biomechanics of the knee during closed kinetic chain and open kinetic chain exercises. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Apr;30(4):556-69. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199804000-00014.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9565938 (View on PubMed)

Gallasch CH, Alexandre NM. The measurement of musculoskeletal pain intensity: a comparison of four methods. Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2007 Jun;28(2):260-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17907648 (View on PubMed)

Giles L, Webster KE, McClelland J, Cook JL. Quadriceps strengthening with and without blood flow restriction in the treatment of patellofemoral pain: a double-blind randomised trial. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Dec;51(23):1688-1694. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096329. Epub 2017 May 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28500081 (View on PubMed)

Hansen R, Brushoj C, Rathleff MS, Magnusson SP, Henriksen M. Quadriceps or hip exercises for patellofemoral pain? A randomised controlled equivalence trial. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Oct;57(20):1287-1294. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106197. Epub 2023 May 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37137673 (View on PubMed)

Kamper SJ, Maher CG, Mackay G. Global rating of change scales: a review of strengths and weaknesses and considerations for design. J Man Manip Ther. 2009;17(3):163-70. doi: 10.1179/jmt.2009.17.3.163.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20046623 (View on PubMed)

Lack S, Barton C, Sohan O, Crossley K, Morrissey D. Proximal muscle rehabilitation is effective for patellofemoral pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2015 Nov;49(21):1365-76. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094723. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26175019 (View on PubMed)

Maclachlan LR, Collins NJ, Matthews MLG, Hodges PW, Vicenzino B. The psychological features of patellofemoral pain: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2017 May;51(9):732-742. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096705. Epub 2017 Mar 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28320733 (View on PubMed)

de Oliveira Silva D, Barton C, Crossley K, Waiteman M, Taborda B, Ferreira AS, Azevedo FM. Implications of knee crepitus to the overall clinical presentation of women with and without patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther Sport. 2018 Sep;33:89-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.07.007. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30059950 (View on PubMed)

de Oliveira Silva D, Barton CJ, Briani RV, Taborda B, Ferreira AS, Pazzinatto MF, Azevedo FM. Kinesiophobia, but not strength is associated with altered movement in women with patellofemoral pain. Gait Posture. 2019 Feb;68:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.10.033. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30408709 (View on PubMed)

Powers CM, Ho KY, Chen YJ, Souza RB, Farrokhi S. Patellofemoral joint stress during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing quadriceps exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 May;44(5):320-7. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.4936. Epub 2014 Mar 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24673446 (View on PubMed)

Powers CM, Witvrouw E, Davis IS, Crossley KM. Evidence-based framework for a pathomechanical model of patellofemoral pain: 2017 patellofemoral pain consensus statement from the 4th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Manchester, UK: part 3. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Dec;51(24):1713-1723. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098717. Epub 2017 Nov 6. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29109118 (View on PubMed)

Priore LB, Azevedo FM, Pazzinatto MF, Ferreira AS, Hart HF, Barton C, de Oliveira Silva D. Influence of kinesiophobia and pain catastrophism on objective function in women with patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther Sport. 2019 Jan;35:116-121. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30529861 (View on PubMed)

Smith BE, Selfe J, Thacker D, Hendrick P, Bateman M, Moffatt F, Rathleff MS, Smith TO, Logan P. Incidence and prevalence of patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018 Jan 11;13(1):e0190892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190892. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29324820 (View on PubMed)

Stathopulu E, Baildam E. Anterior knee pain: a long-term follow-up. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003 Feb;42(2):380-2. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keg093.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12595641 (View on PubMed)

Steinkamp LA, Dillingham MF, Markel MD, Hill JA, Kaufman KR. Biomechanical considerations in patellofemoral joint rehabilitation. Am J Sports Med. 1993 May-Jun;21(3):438-44. doi: 10.1177/036354659302100319.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8346760 (View on PubMed)

Willy RW, Hoglund LT, Barton CJ, Bolgla LA, Scalzitti DA, Logerstedt DS, Lynch AD, Snyder-Mackler L, McDonough CM. Patellofemoral Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Sep;49(9):CPG1-CPG95. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.0302.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31475628 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

PFPKarine

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.