A Self-Directed Web-Based Education for Boston Marathon Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

NCT ID: NCT07266922

Last Updated: 2025-12-12

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

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

104 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-01

Study Completion Date

2026-07-01

Brief Summary

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Runners experience diverse lower extremity injuries, and the most common is patellofemoral pain (PFP)-commonly known as "runner's knee" and characterized by pain around and/or behind the kneecap. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week, self-directed, web-based education program for runners competing in the 2026 Boston Marathon. The study will evaluate outcomes, including pain, function, and marathon performance, in runners who use a web-based educational program designed to help them understand and manage knee pain. There will be two groups: Group 1 will receive the 6-week web-based educational program prior to the 2026 Boston Marathon, while Group 2 will serve as the wait-and-see control group (no intervention) prior to the marathon and then receive the same program 6 weeks after completing the marathon.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Patellofemoral Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

We will conduct a two-arm, parallel-group, single-blinded randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of the intervention prior to the marathon (Group 1: treatment vs. Group 2: wait-and-see control). After the marathon, Group 2 will receive the same intervention, and outcomes will be assessed in a quasi-experimental pre-post design (i.e., as a single treatment group).
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Wait-and-See Control / Post-Marathon Education

This group will serve as a wait-and-see control (no intervention) prior to the 2026 Boston Marathon. After completing the marathon, participants will receive access to MyKneeCap.com, a web-based platform designed to provide runners with evidence-based education on the physical and non-physical factors contributing to patellofemoral pain, as well as strategies for self-managing symptoms tailored specifically for runners.

Group Type OTHER

Education Platform-MyKneeCap.com

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention uses MyKneeCap.com, a free, web-based educational platform designed to help runners understand their knee pain. The platform provides information about patellofemoral pain and includes exercise programs aimed at reducing pain and improving knee function. This intervention does not involve any drugs, devices, or other procedural components.

Pre-Marathon Education

This group will receive the educational platform for 6 weeks prior to the 2026 Boston Marathon. Participants will have access to MyKneeCap.com, a web-based platform designed to provide runners with evidence-based education on the physical and non-physical factors contributing to patellofemoral pain, as well as strategies for self-managing symptoms tailored specifically for runners.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Education Platform-MyKneeCap.com

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention uses MyKneeCap.com, a free, web-based educational platform designed to help runners understand their knee pain. The platform provides information about patellofemoral pain and includes exercise programs aimed at reducing pain and improving knee function. This intervention does not involve any drugs, devices, or other procedural components.

Interventions

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Education Platform-MyKneeCap.com

This intervention uses MyKneeCap.com, a free, web-based educational platform designed to help runners understand their knee pain. The platform provides information about patellofemoral pain and includes exercise programs aimed at reducing pain and improving knee function. This intervention does not involve any drugs, devices, or other procedural components.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Insidious onset of peripatellar and/or retropatellar pain ≥3 months
* Worst pain level in the previous week ≥3/10 on the numeric pain rating scale
* Pain during at least two of the following tasks: prolonged sitting, kneeling, squatting, walking, running, jumping, and stair negotiation.
* All participants must have access to an internet-enabled device (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone) equipped with audio capabilities sufficient to engage with the web-based education platform

Exclusion Criteria

* History of lower extremity surgery
* History of lower extremity pain or injury (other than patellofemoral pain) in the previous six months
* History of patellar dislocation or subluxation
* Internal derangement (e.g., meniscal lesion)
* Ligamentous instability
* Other sources of anterior knee pain (e.g., patellar tendinopathy, bursitis)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Boston Children's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sungwan Kim

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sungwan Kim, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Boston Children's Hospital

Central Contacts

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Olivia Elie

Role: CONTACT

17819531086

Dai Sugimoto, PhD

Role: CONTACT

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Other Identifiers

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IRB-P00052732

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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