Knee OsteoarthritisNCT07298798
To Compare the Effect of Closed Kinetic Chain and Isometric Exercises in Reducing Pain and Improving Functional Disability in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Associated With Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand] and Isometric exercises [knee roller] in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Investigator study aims to compare the benefits of isometric exercise and closed kinetic chain exercises in strengthening programs to lessen pain along with enhance functionality in patients with PFP that are being associated with osteoarthritis and the assessment of PFP pertains to its recognition and the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 60 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- What is being tested?
- Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand] and Isometric exercises [knee roller]
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 9 Nov 2023to 8 Nov 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 35 to 60 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between (35 to 60) years.
- Gender: female.
- The numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) is greater than three out often i.e. 3/10 score.
- Patient experiences anterior knee pain due to such activities like squatting, prolonged sitting, running and stair climbing.
- Patient with unilateral or bilateral knee pain with positive radiographic imaging.
- Patients have grade 1 and 2 knee osteoarthritis (K\&L classification).
Who cannot join
- Any past record of knee surgery.
- Any past record of knee fracture.
- Patients with any neurological disorder.
- Cancer, malignancy or any bone tumor.
- Comorbid like diabetes mellitus.
- Any systemic inflammatory arthritis.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparison of the Closed Kinetic Chain and Isometric Exercise in Female Patient With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Associated With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Control Trial
Investigator study aims to compare the benefits of isometric exercise and closed kinetic chain exercises in strengthening programs to lessen pain along with enhance functionality in patients with PFP that are being associated with osteoarthritis and the assessment of PFP pertains to its recognition and the determination of significant therapeutic techniques. 70 Participants from the department of physiotherapy, Civil Hospital Karachi CHK and Dow University of Health Science (DIPMR) will be randomly assigned into two groups, an experimental group receiving closed kinetic chain exercise, and a control group receiving isometric exercises. The therapy will last four weeks, consisting of twelfth sessions. There will be 35 to 40 minutes in each session, Patients will be evaluated on primary outcome measure, pain intensity and functional limitation using various scales, including the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Kujala/anterior knee pain scale (AKPS)
Read the detailed description
The most prevalent issue of musculoskeletal knee joint that impact is patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) particularly in young adults and the elderly, causing severe discomfort behind and around the patella, making it the primary etiology for anterior knee discomfort. Patellofemoral joint may be the first compartment affected in early knee osteoarthritis. Most exercise programs designed for treating p a t e l l o f e m o r a l p a i n ( PFP) focus on strengthening the quadriceps, primarily the vastus medialis oblique (VMO). A rehabilitation program including closed kinetic chain exercises and isometric exercises may be beneficial for patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) to improve their functional limitations and minimize pain. Closed kinetic chain exercises improve functional movement patterns, while isometric exercises are better tolerated during pain or inflammation. The effectiveness of these approaches in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) associated with knee OA is unclear, but understanding their differential impacts can guide targeted rehabilitation strategies for this complex patient population. Investigator aims to compare the benefits of isometric exercise and closed kinetic chain exercises in strengthening programs to lessen pain along with enhance functionality in patients with PFP that are being associated with osteoarthritis, Participants from the department of physiotherapy, Civil Hospital Karachi CHK and Dow University of Health Science (DIPMR) will be randomly assigned into two groups, an experimental group receiving closed kinetic chain exercise, and a control group receiving isometric exercises. The therapy will last four weeks, consisting of twelfth sessions. There will be 35 to 40 minutes in each session, Patients will be evaluated on pain intensity and functional limitation using various scales, including the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Kujala/anterior knee pain scale (AKPS).
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Being tested
- Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand], Isometric exercises [knee roller]
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand]Behavioural
Terminal knee extension, The patient stand facing the plinth with feet shoulder-width apart and a theraband looped around their knee and other plinth legs. They bend their knees to a 30-degree angle, extend their leg against the band's resistance, and hold this position for six seconds.
VMO squat, The position of patient, hip and knee will bend, weight of the body on feet and feet about shoulder width apart and turnthe feet outward about 45 degrees and position hold for 30 second.
Isometric exercises [knee roller]Behavioural
Static Quads The patient is long sitting or supine on their back, with a foam roll or towel behind their knee.
Contract your quadriceps muscles while pressing down on the towel, maintaining this position for five seconds. Straight leg raising (SLR) The patient will be laying in supine, and before the exercise's lifting phase, a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction will be executed, followed by raising the leg to a height of 10 cm above the plinth for 10 seconds.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| GroupA . given treatment closed kinetic chain exercise | Experimental | Terminal knee extension, The patient stand facing the plinth with feet shoulder-width apart and a theraband looped around their knee and other plinth legs. patient bend their knees to a 30-degree angle, extend their leg against the band's resistance, and hold this position for six seconds.
VMO squat, The position of patient, hip and knee will bend, weight of the body on feet and feet about shoulder width apart and turn the feet outward about 45 degrees and position hold for 30 second. Receives: Behavioral: Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand] |
| GroupB . given treatment isometric exercise SLR, Static quads. | Experimental | Static Quads The patient is long sitting or supine on their back, with a foam roll or towel behind their knee. Contract your quadriceps muscles while pressing down on the towel, maintaining this position for five seconds.
Straight leg raising (SLR) The patient will be laying in supine, and before the exercise's lifting phase, a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction will be executed, followed by raising the leg to a height of 10cm above the plinth for 10 seconds. Receives: Behavioral: Isometric exercises [knee roller] |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
numerical pain rating scale (NPRS)
- Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) Pain intensity will measure using NPR scale (no need for permission), a reliable instrument retest reliability of 0.95 , 0 represents no pain and 10 represents severe suffering.
10= indicate worse pain 5= indicate moderate pain 0 = indicate no pain.
Measured: 12th sessions for four weeks ,outcome measures will take place both, at the baseline when intervention start and four weeks, following the intervention
. Kujala/ Anterior knee pain scale (AKPS)
we will use the Kujala scale to measure functional limitations, a reliable instrument retest reliability of 0.9 in patient with PFPS, total 13 self-reported questionnaire. AKPS graded 0 to 100, 100 being the highest possible score with no pain and disability. Lower scores reflect greater pain and disability.
Measured: 12th sessions for four weeks, ,outcome measures will take place both, at the baseline when intervention start and four weeks, following the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Dec 2025
- Study start9 Nov 2023
- Primary completion28 Feb 2026
- Study completion8 Nov 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Knee OsteoarthritisStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Experimental: GroupA .will be give treatment closed kinetic chain exercise i.e Terminal knee extension and VMO squat. GroupB .will be give treatment isometric exercise i.e SLR and Static quads.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dow University of Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, FAKHRA ASGHAR, Dow University of Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07298798
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB4014/DUHS/Approval/2025/268
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 19 May 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 19 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of the Closed Kinetic Chain and Isometric Exercise in Female Patient With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Associated With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Control Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07298798
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB4014/DUHS/Approval/2025/268
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Dow University of Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Dec 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.
Investigator study aims to compare the benefits of isometric exercise and closed kinetic chain exercises in strengthening programs to lessen pain along with enhance functionality in patients with PFP that are being associated with osteoarthritis and the assessment of PFP pertains to its recognition and the determination of significant therapeutic techniques. 70 Participants from the department of physiotherapy, Civil Hospital Karachi CHK and Dow University of Health Science (DIPMR) will be randomly assigned into two groups, an experimental group receiving closed kinetic chain exercise, and a control group receiving isometric exercises. The therapy will last four weeks, consisting of twelfth sessions. There will be 35 to 40 minutes in each session, Patients will be evaluated on primary outcome measure, pain intensity and functional limitation using various scales, including the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Kujala/anterior knee pain scale (AKPS)
Detailed description
The most prevalent issue of musculoskeletal knee joint that impact is patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) particularly in young adults and the elderly, causing severe discomfort behind and around the patella, making it the primary etiology for anterior knee discomfort. Patellofemoral joint may be the first compartment affected in early knee osteoarthritis. Most exercise programs designed for treating p a t e l l o f e m o r a l p a i n ( PFP) focus on strengthening the quadriceps, primarily the vastus medialis oblique (VMO). A rehabilitation program including closed kinetic chain exercises and isometric exercises may be beneficial for patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) to improve their functional limitations and minimize pain. Closed kinetic chain exercises improve functional movement patterns, while isometric exercises are better tolerated during pain or inflammation. The effectiveness of these approaches in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) associated with knee OA is unclear, but understanding their differential impacts can guide targeted rehabilitation strategies for this complex patient population. Investigator aims to compare the benefits of isometric exercise and closed kinetic chain exercises in strengthening programs to lessen pain along with enhance functionality in patients with PFP that are being associated with osteoarthritis, Participants from the department of physiotherapy, Civil Hospital Karachi CHK and Dow University of Health Science (DIPMR) will be randomly assigned into two groups, an experimental group receiving closed kinetic chain exercise, and a control group receiving isometric exercises. The therapy will last four weeks, consisting of twelfth sessions. There will be 35 to 40 minutes in each session, Patients will be evaluated on pain intensity and functional limitation using various scales, including the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Kujala/anterior knee pain scale (AKPS).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Experimental: GroupA .will be give treatment closed kinetic chain exercise i.e Terminal knee extension and VMO squat. GroupB .will be give treatment isometric exercise i.e SLR and Static quads.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| GroupA . given treatment closed kinetic chain exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand]Terminal knee extension, The patient stand facing the plinth with feet shoulder-width apart and a theraband looped around their knee and other plinth legs. patient bend their knees to a 30-degree angle, extend their leg against the band's resistance, and hold this position for six seconds. VMO squat, The position of patient, hip and knee will bend, weight of the body on feet and feet about shoulder width apart and turn the feet outward about 45 degrees and position hold for 30 second. |
| GroupB . given treatment isometric exercise SLR, Static quads. | Experimental | Behavioral: Isometric exercises [knee roller]Static Quads The patient is long sitting or supine on their back, with a foam roll or towel behind their knee. Contract your quadriceps muscles while pressing down on the towel, maintaining this position for five seconds. Straight leg raising (SLR) The patient will be laying in supine, and before the exercise's lifting phase, a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction will be executed, followed by raising the leg to a height of 10cm above the plinth for 10 seconds. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 60 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age between (35 to 60) years.
- Gender: female.
- The numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) is greater than three out often i.e. 3/10 score.
- Patient experiences anterior knee pain due to such activities like squatting, prolonged sitting, running and stair climbing.
- Patient with unilateral or bilateral knee pain with positive radiographic imaging.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Any past record of knee surgery.
- Any past record of knee fracture.
- Patients with any neurological disorder.
- Cancer, malignancy or any bone tumor.
- Comorbid like diabetes mellitus.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand]Terminal knee extension, The patient stand facing the plinth with feet shoulder-width apart and a theraband looped around their knee and other plinth legs. They bend their knees to a 30-degree angle, extend their leg against the band's resistance, and hold this position for six seconds. VMO squat, The position of patient, hip and knee will bend, weight of the body on feet and feet about shoulder width apart and turnthe feet outward about 45 degrees and position hold for 30 second. | Behavioural | GroupA . given treatment closed kinetic chain exercise |
| Isometric exercises [knee roller]Static Quads The patient is long sitting or supine on their back, with a foam roll or towel behind their knee. Contract your quadriceps muscles while pressing down on the towel, maintaining this position for five seconds. Straight leg raising (SLR) The patient will be laying in supine, and before the exercise's lifting phase, a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction will be executed, followed by raising the leg to a height of 10 cm above the plinth for 10 seconds. | Behavioural | GroupB . given treatment isometric exercise SLR, Static quads. |
Primary outcome
numerical pain rating scale (NPRS)
Time frame: 12th sessions for four weeks ,outcome measures will take place both, at the baseline when intervention start and four weeks, following the intervention
1. Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) Pain intensity will measure using NPR scale (no need for permission), a reliable instrument retest reliability of 0.95 , 0 represents no pain and 10 represents severe suffering. 10= indicate worse pain 5= indicate moderate pain 0 = indicate no pain.
. Kujala/ Anterior knee pain scale (AKPS)
Time frame: 12th sessions for four weeks, ,outcome measures will take place both, at the baseline when intervention start and four weeks, following the intervention
we will use the Kujala scale to measure functional limitations, a reliable instrument retest reliability of 0.9 in patient with PFPS, total 13 self-reported questionnaire. AKPS graded 0 to 100, 100 being the highest possible score with no pain and disability. Lower scores reflect greater pain and disability.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 May 2026.
- Efficacy of electromyographic-biofeedback supplementation training with patellar taping on quadriceps strengthening in patellofemoral pain syndrome among young adult male athletesLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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?
A study testing Terminal knee extension. .VMO squat. [TheraBand] and Isometric exercises [knee roller] in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 6 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 May 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 Pakistan. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) (time frame: 12th sessions for four weeks ,outcome measures will take place both, at the baseline when intervention start and four weeks, following the intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 19 May 2026.