Patellofemoral Pain, PFPNCT07139158
Muscle Oxygenation in Patellofemoral Pain
An observational study of Patellofemoral Pain, PFP, run by Ankara Medipol University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Pain, PFP
- How many people
- 41 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Aug 2025to 31 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Twenty-one patients with patellofemoral pain and 20 pain-free controls will be conducted at Ankara Medipol University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department.
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Quadriceps Muscle Oxygenation During Different Lower Limb Tasks in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
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
- Keywords
- patellofemoral pain, near-infrared spectroscopy, lower extremity, kinesiophobia, physical activity
- Medical subject headings
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Kinesiophobia, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patellofemoral Pain Group | Not described | |
| Pain-free Control Group | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Muscle Oxygenation
Vastus medialis muscle oxygenation will be evaluated with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy at rest, during and after activity.
Measured: Day 1
Secondary outcomes (5)
Kujala Patellofemoral Score Scale
Kujala patellofemoral scoring is a tool that allows functional evaluation of knee complaints related to the patellofemoral structure. Different scoring systems have been developed for knee-specific symptoms; however, only a few of these are focused on patellofemoral pain.The Kujala Patellofemoral Score Scale is graded on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest possible score.
Measured: Day 1
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Provides information on time spent walking, moderate and vigorous activities, and time spent sitting. Calculation of the total score of the short form includes the sum of the duration (minutes) and frequency (days) of walking, moderate-intensity activity, and vigorous activity. The energy required for activities is calculated with the metabolic equivalent(MET) -minute score. Standard metabolic equivalent (MET) values have been established for these activities.
Measured: Day 1
Adipose tissue thickness
The skinfold thickness of vastus medialis muscle was evaluated with a Skinfold Caliper. Adipose tissue thickness was obtained by dividing the skinfold thickness by two.
Measured: Day 1
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Numeric pain rating scale is a scale used to quantify pain intensity. It is divided into eleven equal parts; for example 0 - 10. O means that there is no pain at all, 1 - 3 divisional range falls in the mild category pain , 4 - 6 indicates the symptoms of moderate pain while 7 - 10 reading symptoms the severity of pain.
Measured: Day 1
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale
The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale is a 17-question questionnaire that assesses avoidance of injury and fear of movement. The scale is scored using a Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree, 4 = Strongly agree). Items 4, 8, 12 and 16 are reversed to calculate the total score of the scale. The total score is between 17 and 68. As the score of the person increases, it is understood that their kinesiophobia is high. A total score higher than 37 is considered as high kinesiophobia.
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Aug 2025
- Study start20 Aug 2025
- Primary completion31 Aug 2025
- Study completion31 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Patellofemoral Pain, PFPStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara Medipol University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gazi University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Selcan Suicmez, Ankara Medipol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07139158
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GaziU-FTR-SS-03
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 17 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Quadriceps Muscle Oxygenation During Different Lower Limb Tasks in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07139158
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GaziU-FTR-SS-03
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain, PFP
- Keywords
- patellofemoral pain, near-infrared spectroscopy, lower extremity, kinesiophobia, physical activity
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara Medipol UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gazi University
- Study start
- 20 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Aug 2025 (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.
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.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patellofemoral Pain Group | – | – |
| Pain-free Control Group | – | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Twenty-one patients with patellofemoral pain and 20 pain-free controls will be conducted at Ankara Medipol University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Muscle Oxygenation
Time frame: Day 1
Vastus medialis muscle oxygenation will be evaluated with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy at rest, during and after activity.
5 secondary outcomes
Kujala Patellofemoral Score Scale
Time frame: Day 1
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Time frame: Day 1
Adipose tissue thickness
Time frame: Day 1
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: Day 1
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale
Time frame: Day 1
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 10 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Patellofemoral Pain, PFP
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Patellofemoral Pain, PFP, run by Ankara Medipol University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 5 inclusion and 4 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 10 Feb 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Muscle Oxygenation (time frame: Day 1). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 10 Feb 2026.