Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeNCT04752501
Maladaptive Psychosocial Beliefs and Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain
A study testing Psychologically Informed Education in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and Knee Pain Chronic, run by Nationwide Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This is a randomized prospective study assessing the impact of psychosocial factors on pain and physical performance among adolescents with patellofemoral pain. A set of psychosocial surveys assessing fear avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing will be completed by the participant/parents. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Knee Pain Chronic, Patellofemoral Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Psychologically Informed Education
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 8 Mar 2021to 10 Aug 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Having patellofemoral pain as defined as: 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).
Who cannot join
- Prior history of patellar dislocation.
- Suspicion of other diagnosis of the knee by evaluating physical therapist or principal investigator.
- Other concomitant injury of the leg.
- Prior history of knee surgery.
- Red flags present for non-musculoskeletal involvement (bowel/bladder problems, saddle anesthesia, progressive neurological deficits, recent fever or infection, unexplained weight loss, unable to change symptoms with mechanical testing).
- Numbness and tingling in any lumbar dermatome.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports and Ortho PT East Broad
Columbus, Ohio, 43213
About this study
This is a randomized prospective study assessing the impact of psychosocial factors on pain and physical performance among adolescents with patellofemoral pain. A set of psychosocial surveys assessing fear avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing will be completed by the participant/parents. Participants will then complete an activity questionnaire, numeric pain rating scale, and a self-report questionnaire of functional ability. Participants will then be randomized into one of two groups (psychologically informed education group and a control group). Participants will view a series of educational videos (based upon group assignment) and complete physical therapy exercises for lower extremity strengthening, flexibility, and neuromuscular control. Participants with patellofemoral pain will then complete follow-up surveys of their psychosocial beliefs, pain and self-reported functional ability through REDcap at immediately post-intervention, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months.
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Knee Pain Chronic, Patellofemoral Syndrome, Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
- Being tested
- Psychologically Informed Education, Biomedical Education (Control)
- Keywords
- Knee, Adolescent, Psychologically-informed, Anterior Knee Pain
- Medical subject headings
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Psychologically Informed EducationOther
This arm will provide an education intervention which will attempt to address maladaptive psychological behaviors in adolescents with knee pain
Biomedical Education (Control)Other
This arm will provide education of basic knee anatomy, lower extremity mechanics, and simple exercises and will not address maladaptive psychological behaviors
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologically Informed Video Series | Experimental | This 3 part educational video series will teach participants how the body processes nociception and experiences pain, and pain does not mean tissues are being damaged. Additionally we will use the framework called the "Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation" which advocates for education to address five cognitive dimensions: (1) identity (the effort to evaluate symptoms and label the illness); (2) cause (the subjectively formulated belief of what is causing the symptoms); (3) time-line (the patient's perception of how long the problem will last); (4) consequences (the patient's predictions of how the illness will affect them in different areas of their life); and (5) controllability (the patient's belief regarding their outcome and personal ability to change it); Simple methods of cognitive restructuring; and how to respond to activity-related pain. Receives: Other: Psychologically Informed Education |
| Biomedical Education Video Series | Active comparator | Participants in the control (biomedical education) group will watch a series videos on the iPad equal in length to the psychologically informed video series. The control video will discuss basic anatomy of the knee and provide no psychosocial education or positive reinforcement about their condition, basic strengthening exercises and proper lower extremity mechanics Receives: Other: Biomedical Education (Control) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Anterior Knee Pain Scale
Assessment of change of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). The AKPS is a self-reported 13 item questionnaire with discrete categories related to various levels of current knee function. Categories within each item are weighted, and responses are summed to provide an overall score of 0-100, with 100 representing no disability. The Anterior Knee Pain Scale is found to be valid and reliable in patients from 12-50 years of age presenting with anterior knee pain with a test-retest reliability of .95 (Watson, 2005). A change of 8-10 points represent the minimal clinical difference (Crossley, 2004).
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale
The Numeric Pain rating scale asks the patient their highest pain in the last 24 hours. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale is a 0-10 scale subjectively assessing a patients perceived level of pain. With 0 on the scale = to no pain, and 10 = to the worst pain imaginable. The use of the Numerical Pain Rating Scale for assessing pain has been validated for use in patients with knee pain and has been found to have a minimal detectable change of 1 points.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in self-reported physical activity level.
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Activity. PROMIS physical activity scale assesses activity over the past week. Each question has five response options ranging in value from 1 to 5. The responses are summed with scores ranging from 8-40 with 8 representing the lowest physical activity and 40 representing the highest physical activity. Raw scores are rescaled into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Fear-Avoidance Beliefs
Change in fear avoidance beliefs as measure by the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity scale (FABQ-PA). The FABQ-PA quantifies the patient's fear of pain and beliefs about avoiding activity. The FABQ-PA is a 5-item self-report measure which assesses an individual's fear-avoidance of painful activity and is modified for the knee. The FABQ-PA is modified by changing the word "back" to "knee" on the questionnaire. Each item is scored on a 0-6 scale, with 0 indicating completely disagree and 6 indicating completely agree. Questions 2-5 are summed to create a final score of 0-24, with high scores indicating higher fear avoidance beliefs.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Kinesiophobia
Change in kinesiophobia beliefs as measure by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 scale. The TSK-11 is an 11-item questionnaire that assesses fear of injury due to movement. Patients are asked to make ratings of their degree of agreement with each of the 11 statements, for instance, 'Pain lets me know when to stop exercising so that I don't injure myself'. Ratings range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The responses are summed to yield a total score of 11-44 where higher values reflect higher kinesiophobia.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Pain Catastrophizing
Change in pain catastrophizing as measured by the pain catastrophizing scale-child version (PCS-c). The PCS-c is a 13-item self-report measure designed to assess a child's pain catastrophizing. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time). The responses are summed to yield a total score of 0-52 where higher values reflect higher pain catastrophizing.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2021
- Study start8 Mar 2021
- Primary completion10 Aug 2022
- Study completion10 Aug 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Nationwide Children's HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mitchell Selhorst, Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Investigators
- Mitchell Selhorst, DPT, PHD, Principal investigator, Nationwide Children's Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04752501
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB18-00724.2
- Status last verified
- Mar 2023
- First submitted
- 9 Feb 2021
- Last updated
- 3 Apr 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD that underlie results in a publication
Publications
Grotle M, Garratt AM, Krogstad Jenssen H, Stuge B. Reliability and construct validity of self-report questionnaires for patients with pelvic girdle pain. Phys Ther. 2012 Jan;92(1):111-23. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20110076. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
PubMed 22016375Leventhal H, Phillips LA, Burns E. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM): a dynamic framework for understanding illness self-management. J Behav Med. 2016 Dec;39(6):935-946. doi: 10.1007/s10865-016-9782-2. Epub 2016 Aug 11.
PubMed 27515801Robins H, Perron V, Heathcote LC, Simons LE. Pain Neuroscience Education: State of the Art and Application in Pediatrics. Children (Basel). 2016 Dec 21;3(4):43. doi: 10.3390/children3040043.
PubMed 28009822Vlaeyen JWS, Linton SJ. Fear-avoidance model of chronic musculoskeletal pain: 12 years on. Pain. 2012 Jun;153(6):1144-1147. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.12.009. Epub 2012 Feb 8. No abstract available.
PubMed 22321917Wang YC, Hart DL, Stratford PW, Mioduski JE. Baseline dependency of minimal clinically important improvement. Phys Ther. 2011 May;91(5):675-88. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20100229. Epub 2011 Mar 3.
PubMed 21372203Watson CJ, Propps M, Ratner J, Zeigler DL, Horton P, Smith SS. Reliability and responsiveness of the lower extremity functional scale and the anterior knee pain scale in patients with anterior knee pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005 Mar;35(3):136-46. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2005.35.3.136.
PubMed 15839307Crossley 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.
PubMed 15129407Selhorst M, Hoehn J, Schmitt L, Benedict J, Fernandez-Fernandez A. The Effect of a Psychologically Informed Video Series to Treat Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2023 Oct;53(10):634-642. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.12041.
PubMed 37706686
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Apr 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Maladaptive Psychosocial Beliefs and Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04752501
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB18-00724.2
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Knee Pain Chronic, Patellofemoral Syndrome, Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
- Keywords
- Knee, Adolescent, Psychologically-informed, Anterior Knee Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Nationwide Children's HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Mar 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Aug 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a randomized prospective study assessing the impact of psychosocial factors on pain and physical performance among adolescents with patellofemoral pain. A set of psychosocial surveys assessing fear avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing will be completed by the participant/parents. Participants will then complete an activity questionnaire, numeric pain rating scale, and a self-report questionnaire of functional ability. Participants will then be randomized into one of two groups (psychologically informed education group and a control group). Participants will view a series of educational videos (based upon group assignment) and complete physical therapy exercises for lower extremity strengthening, flexibility, and neuromuscular control. Participants with patellofemoral pain will then complete follow-up surveys of their psychosocial beliefs, pain and self-reported functional ability through REDcap at immediately post-intervention, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologically Informed Video Series | Experimental | Other: Psychologically Informed EducationThis 3 part educational video series will teach participants how the body processes nociception and experiences pain, and pain does not mean tissues are being damaged. Additionally we will use the framework called the "Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation" which advocates for education to address five cognitive dimensions: (1) identity (the effort to evaluate symptoms and label the illness); (2) cause (the subjectively formulated belief of what is causing the symptoms); (3) time-line (the patient's perception of how long the problem will last); (4) consequences (the patient's predictions of how the illness will affect them in different areas of their life); and (5) controllability (the patient's belief regarding their outcome and personal ability to change it); Simple methods of cognitive restructuring; and how to respond to activity-related pain. |
| Biomedical Education Video Series | Active comparator | Other: Biomedical Education (Control)Participants in the control (biomedical education) group will watch a series videos on the iPad equal in length to the psychologically informed video series. The control video will discuss basic anatomy of the knee and provide no psychosocial education or positive reinforcement about their condition, basic strengthening exercises and proper lower extremity mechanics |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Having patellofemoral pain as defined as: 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).
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Prior history of patellar dislocation.
- Suspicion of other diagnosis of the knee by evaluating physical therapist or principal investigator.
- Other concomitant injury of the leg.
- Prior history of knee surgery.
- Red flags present for non-musculoskeletal involvement (bowel/bladder problems, saddle anesthesia, progressive neurological deficits, recent fever or infection, unexplained weight loss, unable to change symptoms with mechanical testing).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologically Informed EducationThis arm will provide an education intervention which will attempt to address maladaptive psychological behaviors in adolescents with knee pain | Other | Psychologically Informed Video Series |
| Biomedical Education (Control)This arm will provide education of basic knee anatomy, lower extremity mechanics, and simple exercises and will not address maladaptive psychological behaviors | Other | Biomedical Education Video Series |
Primary outcome
Change in Anterior Knee Pain Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Assessment of change of the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). The AKPS is a self-reported 13 item questionnaire with discrete categories related to various levels of current knee function. Categories within each item are weighted, and responses are summed to provide an overall score of 0-100, with 100 representing no disability. The Anterior Knee Pain Scale is found to be valid and reliable in patients from 12-50 years of age presenting with anterior knee pain with a test-retest reliability of .95 (Watson, 2005). A change of 8-10 points represent the minimal clinical difference (Crossley, 2004).
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in self-reported physical activity level.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Fear-Avoidance Beliefs
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Kinesiophobia
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Change in Pain Catastrophizing
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Apr 2023.
- Background: PubMed 22016375Grotle M, Garratt AM, Krogstad Jenssen H, Stuge B. Reliability and construct validity of self-report questionnaires for patients with pelvic girdle pain. Phys Ther. 2012 Jan;92(1):111-23. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20110076. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
- Background: PubMed 27515801Leventhal H, Phillips LA, Burns E. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM): a dynamic framework for understanding illness self-management. J Behav Med. 2016 Dec;39(6):935-946. doi: 10.1007/s10865-016-9782-2. Epub 2016 Aug 11.
- Background: PubMed 28009822Robins H, Perron V, Heathcote LC, Simons LE. Pain Neuroscience Education: State of the Art and Application in Pediatrics. Children (Basel). 2016 Dec 21;3(4):43. doi: 10.3390/children3040043.
- Background: PubMed 22321917Vlaeyen JWS, Linton SJ. Fear-avoidance model of chronic musculoskeletal pain: 12 years on. Pain. 2012 Jun;153(6):1144-1147. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.12.009. Epub 2012 Feb 8. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 21372203Wang YC, Hart DL, Stratford PW, Mioduski JE. Baseline dependency of minimal clinically important improvement. Phys Ther. 2011 May;91(5):675-88. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20100229. Epub 2011 Mar 3.
- Background: PubMed 15839307Watson CJ, Propps M, Ratner J, Zeigler DL, Horton P, Smith SS. Reliability and responsiveness of the lower extremity functional scale and the anterior knee pain scale in patients with anterior knee pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005 Mar;35(3):136-46. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2005.35.3.136.
- Background: PubMed 15129407Crossley 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.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37706686Selhorst M, Hoehn J, Schmitt L, Benedict J, Fernandez-Fernandez A. The Effect of a Psychologically Informed Video Series to Treat Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2023 Oct;53(10):634-642. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.12041.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All IPD that underlie results in a publication
Related trials for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Recruiting
Effects of Telerehabilitation Versus Supervised Rehabilitation Protocol on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Recovery in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.
Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome
RecruitingObservational study
MRI Study of Musculoskeletal Function
Abnormalities, Imaging
Not yet recruiting
Comparison of High-Intensity and Conventional Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Low Back Pain, Radicular Syndrome
Active, not recruiting
Stabilization vs Corrective Exercise in PFP
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
RecruitingObservational study
Assessing the Association Between WBCT PFJ Morphological Metrics and Knee Symptoms
Knee Osteoarthritis, Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mitchell Selhorst, DPT, PHD principal investigator
Nationwide Children's Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Psychologically Informed Education in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and Knee Pain Chronic, run by Nationwide Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Anterior Knee Pain Scale (time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks (18-24 days post-evaluation), 6 weeks (39-46 days post-evaluation), and 3 months]). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04752501, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Apr 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.