Muscle Oxygenation in Patellofemoral Pain

NCT ID: NCT07139158

Last Updated: 2026-02-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 41 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-20
• Study Completion Date: 2025-08-31

Brief Summary

Patellofemoral joint problems account for a significant portion of knee pain and disability. Among these problems, patellofemoral pain is not directly related to any obvious structural abnormality and is characterized by pain in the retro- or peri-patellar region, particularly during activities such as squatting, running, and climbing stairs. It is commonly seen in the general population. The current literature highlights the tendency of patellofemoral pain to recur and become chronic despite all treatments. Individuals with patellofemoral pain often experience disorders in the neuromuscular function of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which is necessary for knee function and dynamic stability and is frequently suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of the disease. A decrease in the tissue's ability to utilize oxygen during exercise or physical activity may lead to permanent dysfunction of the quadriceps femoris muscle. However, no studies have been found in the literature examining changes in oxygenation of the quadriceps femoris muscle in individuals with patellofemoral pain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate changes in oxygenation of the quadriceps femoris muscle in individuals with patellofemoral pain during various exercises and physical activities by comparing them with pain-free individuals.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain, PFP

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: OTHER
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Patellofemoral Pain Group

No interventions assigned to this group

Pain-free Control Group

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18-40 years of age
• pain around or behind the patella, which is aggravated by at least one activity that loads the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing on a flexed knee (e.g., squatting, stair ambulation, jogging/running, hopping/jumping)
• the pain persist for at least four months, and be rated at ≥ 3/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
• vastus medialis muscle adipose tissue thickness <20 mm

Pain-free controls were age- and gender-matched, with vastus medialis muscle adipose tissue thickness <20 mm.

Exclusion Criteria

• a history of joint surgery
• meniscal and/or ligament injuries
• patellar instability, congenital patellar subluxation/dislocation
• any cardiovascular, congenital, or musculoskeletal disorders that could interfere with the assessment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Gazi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Ankara Medipol University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Selcan Suicmez

Research Assistant

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Ankara Medipol University

Ankara, Altındağ, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

GaziU-FTR-SS-03

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id