Patellofemoral DisorderNCT07396948
The Effectiveness of Two Physiotherapy Protocols in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
A study testing medial patellar mobilization, quadriceps muscle stretching and training protocol in people with Patellofemoral Disorder, run by Medical University of Gdansk.
Trial summary
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in young and active individuals. PFPS is characterized by anterior knee pain. The treatment of choice is conservative management. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Disorder
- What is being tested?
- medial patellar mobilization, quadriceps muscle stretching and training protocol
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 22 Jan 2026to Mar 2026
- 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 18 to 55 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Inclusion Criteria: anterior knee pain (unilateral or bilateral) lasting at least one month -
Exclusion Criteria: previous knee injuries or surgeries, systemic diseases, patellar dislocation or subluxation, patellar maltracking, ligamentous laxity, patellar tendon pathologies, spinal pain, other abnormalities such as leg length discrepancy >2 cm, patients treated pharmacologically, with physiotherapy, or acupuncture in the knee area within the past 30 days
-
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in young and active individuals. PFPS is characterized by anterior knee pain. The treatment of choice is conservative management. However, there is still lack of widely accepted physiotherapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating patellofemoral pain. The outcomes of conservative treatment remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two physiotherapy protocols based on manual therapy and muscle training in the treatment of patellofemoral pain
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Disorder
- Being tested
- medial patellar mobilization, quadriceps muscle stretching, training protocol
- Keywords
- patellofemoral pain syndrome
- 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.
medial patellar mobilizationOther
Patellar mobilization was carried out three times for 60 seconds each session [19]. The technique was performed by placing the therapist's thumbs on the lateral edge of the patella allowing a patellar glide in the medial and slightly caudal direction. The aim of this technique was to stretch the lateral patellar retinaculum
quadriceps muscle stretchingOther
In order to perform this technique the patient was positioned prone on a treatment table (Figure 6). The non-stretched limb remained on the ground, flexed at the hip and knee. Moving this limb forward ensured proper aligment of the lumbar spine, while elevating the heel and placing it on the therapist's foot reduced tension in the hamstring group. Proper execution of the technique could be performed when the pelvis was aligned parallel to the surface, keeping the trunk and thigh of the stretched limb in one line. The therapist grasped by ipsilateral hand the distal third of the patient's lower leg and pulled the heel toward the buttock while by the contralateral hand stabilized the pelvis. The static position of stretching was maintained for 30 seconds in every repetition.
training protocolOther
The training protocol included the following exercise:
glute bridges, half squat, rear lunges, side walk with elastic band
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| training protocol | Placebo comparator | Training protocol with three exercises Receives: Other: training protocol |
| medial patellar mobilization | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: medial patellar mobilization |
| quadriceps muscle stretching | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: quadriceps muscle stretching |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
AKPS score
Measured: 6 weeks
VAS scale
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Feb 2026
- Study start22 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Patellofemoral DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Medical University of GdanskThe 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of Gdansk
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07396948
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KB/134/2025
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of Two Physiotherapy Protocols in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07396948
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KB/134/2025
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Disorder
- Keywords
- patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of GdanskUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Feb 2026 (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 pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in young and active individuals. PFPS is characterized by anterior knee pain. The treatment of choice is conservative management. However, there is still lack of widely accepted physiotherapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating patellofemoral pain. The outcomes of conservative treatment remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two physiotherapy protocols based on manual therapy and muscle training in the treatment of patellofemoral pain
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| training protocol | Placebo comparator | Other: training protocolTraining protocol with three exercises |
| medial patellar mobilization | Active comparator | Other: medial patellar mobilization |
| quadriceps muscle stretching | Active comparator | Other: quadriceps muscle stretching |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
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 |
|---|---|---|
| medial patellar mobilizationPatellar mobilization was carried out three times for 60 seconds each session [19]. The technique was performed by placing the therapist's thumbs on the lateral edge of the patella allowing a patellar glide in the medial and slightly caudal direction. The aim of this technique was to stretch the lateral patellar retinaculum | Other | medial patellar mobilization |
| quadriceps muscle stretchingIn order to perform this technique the patient was positioned prone on a treatment table (Figure 6). The non-stretched limb remained on the ground, flexed at the hip and knee. Moving this limb forward ensured proper aligment of the lumbar spine, while elevating the heel and placing it on the therapist's foot reduced tension in the hamstring group. Proper execution of the technique could be performed when the pelvis was aligned parallel to the surface, keeping the trunk and thigh of the stretched limb in one line. The therapist grasped by ipsilateral hand the distal third of the patient's lower leg and pulled the heel toward the buttock while by the contralateral hand stabilized the pelvis. The static position of stretching was maintained for 30 seconds in every repetition. | Other | quadriceps muscle stretching |
| training protocolThe training protocol included the following exercise: glute bridges, half squat, rear lunges, side walk with elastic band | Other | training protocol |
Primary outcome
AKPS score
Time frame: 6 weeks
VAS scale
Time frame: 6 weeks
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 9 Feb 2026.
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing medial patellar mobilization, quadriceps muscle stretching and training protocol in people with Patellofemoral Disorder, run by Medical University of Gdansk.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
Contact Piotr Łuczkiewicz, prof. (600 905 075, plucz@gumed.edu.pl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
AKPS score (time frame: 6 weeks). 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 9 Feb 2026.