Sports Physical TherapyNCT07438587
Comparative Effects of Cadence Training vs Elliptical Training in Cricketers
A study testing cadence training and elliptical training in people with Sports Physical Therapy, run by Riphah International University.
Trial summary
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP) is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain in sportspeople, especially those playing some sport that involves high-impact and rapid changes of direction and frequent lower-limb loading such as in cricket. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 weeks, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sports Physical Therapy
- What is being tested?
- cadence training and elliptical training
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 15 Mar 2026to 30 Jun 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 35 weeks
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Age 18-35 years
- Male Cricketers
- Having acute \& sub-acute patellofemoral pain
- Positive patellofemoral compression test
- Playing experience of 2-3 years
Who cannot join
- Any fracture or trauma
- Any neurological disorder
- Any other musculoskeletal illness
- Any systemic disease
- Drug addicts player
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
Official title: Comparative Effects of Cadence Training vs Elliptical Training on Pain, Power and Endurance Among Cricketers With Pattelofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP) is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain in sportspeople, especially those playing some sport that involves high-impact and rapid changes of direction and frequent lower-limb loading such as in cricket. The stress of patella is augmented by the activities and results in pain and functional performance decline. Strategies of rehabilitation which minimize the stress on the knee joints and maximizes strength, power and endurance are required. Elliptical training offers a low-impact aerobic alternative with negligible patellofemoral loading whereas cadence training highlights a controlled movement frequency and ideal movement patterns which may alleviate stress on the joints and increase neuromuscular coordination.
To compare the effects of cadence training versus elliptical training on pain, power, and endurance among cricketers with patellofemoral pain syndrome. It was a randomized clinical trial involving 48 cricketers aged between 18 35 years with positive patellofemoral compression test and at least 2 3 years of playing experience. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 24 each) and Group A was allocated to the cadence training and Group B to elliptical training. The sessions were conducted over six weeks with each session taking 45 minutes three times a week. The pre- and post-intervention measures were Vertical Jump Test (power), Wall Sit Test (endurance), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The paired, Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney and independent t tests were used to analyze the data and compare the within and between-group differences.
- Conditions
- Sports Physical Therapy
- Being tested
- cadence training, elliptical training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
cadence trainingProcedure or surgery
Cadence Training program was administered to Group A in a six-week period to enhance power, endurance, and knee stability among cricketers who had the patella femoral pain syndrome. Each session lasted 45 minutes, with a 5-minute warm-up of dynamic stretches to the lower body. The next thing was electrotherapy of 10 minutes to manage pain. The primary exercise was cadence training, which was to be gradually changed into moderate and then high-intensity training throughout the weeks, with the main aim being to keep the cadence steady at the station to improve the performance. Bodyweight squats, lunges were included as strength exercises, with repetitions progressing every week (10 to 20). At the end of every session, there was a 5 minutes cool-down of static stretching to enhance flexibility and aid in recovery
elliptical trainingProcedure or surgery
Group B had a structured Elliptical Training program during the six weeks, which started with a 5-minute warm-up with dynamic stretches. The primary exercise was the elliptical intervals with the first weeks being steady-state cardio workouts and the second weeks using high-resistance intervals to develop power and endurance. This group also did bodyweight squats and lunges which were regularly done with body weight every week with repetitions of 10 to 20. At the end of every session, there was a 5 minute period of cool-down of static stretching which helped bring about recovery and flexibility
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| group A | Experimental | cadence training Receives: Procedure: cadence training |
| group B | Experimental | elliptical training Receives: Procedure: elliptical training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (For Pain) The measure uses an eleven point numerical scale with a 0 meaning no pain, and a 10, which means pain as bad as you can imagine or worst pain imaginable.
Measured: 6 WEEKS
VERTICAL JUMP TEST
A Vertical Jump Test (VJT) was used to determine power in the lower body. The participant measures their standing reach height and then leaps as high as possible using a jump mat or measuring tape and takes a record of the jump height. Two or three jumps are usually taken and the best result is taken to analyze it.
Measured: 6 WEEKS
WALL SIT TEST FOR ENDURANCE
The Wall Sit Test (For Endurance) In the Wall Sit Test, the participants will be requested to sit with their knees bent against a wall in a 90-degree angle as long as they can. This is a functional endurance test which assesses the endurance of lower body muscles that are the quadriceps, hamstrings and the gluteal muscles.
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 posted27 Feb 2026
- Study start15 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (14)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sports Physical TherapyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Danish Hassan, PhD, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07438587
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR AHS/24/04/104
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
de Souza Junior JR, Rabelo PHR, Lemos TV, Esculier JF, Carto JPDS, Matheus JPC. Effects of gait retraining with focus on impact versus gait retraining with focus on cadence on pain, function and lower limb kinematics in runners with patellofemoral pain: Protocol of a randomized, blinded, parallel group trial with 6-month follow-up. PLoS One. 2021 May 12;16(5):e0250965. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250965. eCollection 2021.
PubMed 33979372Wei Z, Hou X, Qi Y, Wang L. Influence of foot strike patterns and cadences on patellofemoral joint stress in male runners with patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther Sport. 2024 Jan;65:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.10.006. Epub 2023 Nov 9.
PubMed 37976905Klich S, Michalik K, Pietraszewski B, Hansen EA, Madeleine P, Kawczynski A. Effect of applied cadence in repeated sprint cycling on muscle characteristics. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024 May;124(5):1609-1620. doi: 10.1007/s00421-023-05393-z. Epub 2024 Jan 4.
PubMed 38175273O'Leary TJ, Collett J, Howells K, Morris MG. High but not moderate-intensity endurance training increases pain tolerance: a randomised trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017 Nov;117(11):2201-2210. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3708-8. Epub 2017 Sep 6.
PubMed 28879617Abbasi, A., Mohammadian, M.A., Abbasi, S. and Bashafaat, H.. The Effect of Changes in Bicycle Pedal Width on the Kinematics of Segments and Joints of Lower Extremity: Analysis of the Risk of Knee Overuse Injuries with Pedaling (A Cross-sectional Study). Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences. 2020;15(6), pp.354-360.
He MY, Lo HP, Chen WH. Effects of Stationary Bikes and Elliptical Machines on Knee Joint Kinematics during Exercise. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Mar 18;60(3):498. doi: 10.3390/medicina60030498.
PubMed 38541224Wang J, Luo Z, Dai B, Fu W. Effects of 12-week cadence retraining on impact peak, load rates and lower extremity biomechanics in running. PeerJ. 2020 Aug 24;8:e9813. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9813. eCollection 2020.
PubMed 32904121Aghapour E, Kamali F, Sinaei E. Effects of Kinesio Taping(R) on knee function and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017 Oct;21(4):835-839. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.01.012. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
PubMed 29037636Blond L, Hansen L. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in athletes: a 5.7-year retrospective follow-up study of 250 athletes. Acta Orthop Belg. 1998 Dec;64(4):393-400.
PubMed 9922542Petersen W, Rembitzki I, Liebau C. Patellofemoral pain in athletes. Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jun 12;8:143-154. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S133406. eCollection 2017.
PubMed 28652829Vora M, Curry E, Chipman A, Matzkin E, Li X. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in female athletes: A review of diagnoses, etiology and treatment options. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2018 Feb 20;9(4):7281. doi: 10.4081/or.2017.7281. eCollection 2017 Dec 14.
PubMed 29564075Lee JH, Shin KH, Han SB, Sun Hwang K, Lee SJ, Jang KM. Prospective comparative study between knee alignment-oriented static and dynamic balance exercise in patellofemoral pain syndrome patients with dynamic knee valgus. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Sep 16;101(37):e30631. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030631.
PubMed 361239322. Ameer T, Batool S, Tanvir A, Yousafzai MS. Frequency of Patellofemoral Pain in Female Athletes of Different Universities. Pakistan Journal of Physical Therapy (PJPT). 2019:22-6
Asif M, Sajjad Y, Naeem AA, Ghaffar N, Riaz T, Mannan A, et al. Comparison of Specific Hip Strengthening Exercises and Conventional Knee Exercises on Pain, Muscle Strength and Function in Sprinters with Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences. 2022;16(05):686-
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Cadence Training vs Elliptical Training on Pain, Power and Endurance Among Cricketers With Pattelofemoral Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07438587
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR AHS/24/04/104
- Conditions
- Sports Physical Therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 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 (PFP) is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain in sportspeople, especially those playing some sport that involves high-impact and rapid changes of direction and frequent lower-limb loading such as in cricket. The stress of patella is augmented by the activities and results in pain and functional performance decline. Strategies of rehabilitation which minimize the stress on the knee joints and maximizes strength, power and endurance are required. Elliptical training offers a low-impact aerobic alternative with negligible patellofemoral loading whereas cadence training highlights a controlled movement frequency and ideal movement patterns which may alleviate stress on the joints and increase neuromuscular coordination.
To compare the effects of cadence training versus elliptical training on pain, power, and endurance among cricketers with patellofemoral pain syndrome. It was a randomized clinical trial involving 48 cricketers aged between 18 35 years with positive patellofemoral compression test and at least 2 3 years of playing experience. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 24 each) and Group A was allocated to the cadence training and Group B to elliptical training. The sessions were conducted over six weeks with each session taking 45 minutes three times a week. The pre- and post-intervention measures were Vertical Jump Test (power), Wall Sit Test (endurance), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The paired, Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney and independent t tests were used to analyze the data and compare the within and between-group differences.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| group A | Experimental | Procedure: cadence trainingcadence training |
| group B | Experimental | Procedure: elliptical trainingelliptical training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 weeks
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 18-35 years
- Male Cricketers
- Having acute \& sub-acute patellofemoral pain
- Positive patellofemoral compression test
- Playing experience of 2-3 years
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Any fracture or trauma
- Any neurological disorder
- Any other musculoskeletal illness
- Any systemic disease
- Drug addicts player
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 |
|---|---|---|
| cadence trainingCadence Training program was administered to Group A in a six-week period to enhance power, endurance, and knee stability among cricketers who had the patella femoral pain syndrome. Each session lasted 45 minutes, with a 5-minute warm-up of dynamic stretches to the lower body. The next thing was electrotherapy of 10 minutes to manage pain. The primary exercise was cadence training, which was to be gradually changed into moderate and then high-intensity training throughout the weeks, with the main aim being to keep the cadence steady at the station to improve the performance. Bodyweight squats, lunges were included as strength exercises, with repetitions progressing every week (10 to 20). At the end of every session, there was a 5 minutes cool-down of static stretching to enhance flexibility and aid in recovery | Procedure or surgery | group A |
| elliptical trainingGroup B had a structured Elliptical Training program during the six weeks, which started with a 5-minute warm-up with dynamic stretches. The primary exercise was the elliptical intervals with the first weeks being steady-state cardio workouts and the second weeks using high-resistance intervals to develop power and endurance. This group also did bodyweight squats and lunges which were regularly done with body weight every week with repetitions of 10 to 20. At the end of every session, there was a 5 minute period of cool-down of static stretching which helped bring about recovery and flexibility | Procedure or surgery | group B |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: 6 WEEKS
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (For Pain) The measure uses an eleven point numerical scale with a 0 meaning no pain, and a 10, which means pain as bad as you can imagine or worst pain imaginable.
VERTICAL JUMP TEST
Time frame: 6 WEEKS
A Vertical Jump Test (VJT) was used to determine power in the lower body. The participant measures their standing reach height and then leaps as high as possible using a jump mat or measuring tape and takes a record of the jump height. Two or three jumps are usually taken and the best result is taken to analyze it.
WALL SIT TEST FOR ENDURANCE
Time frame: 6 WEEKS
The Wall Sit Test (For Endurance) In the Wall Sit Test, the participants will be requested to sit with their knees bent against a wall in a 90-degree angle as long as they can. This is a functional endurance test which assesses the endurance of lower body muscles that are the quadriceps, hamstrings and the gluteal muscles.
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 27 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 33979372de Souza Junior JR, Rabelo PHR, Lemos TV, Esculier JF, Carto JPDS, Matheus JPC. Effects of gait retraining with focus on impact versus gait retraining with focus on cadence on pain, function and lower limb kinematics in runners with patellofemoral pain: Protocol of a randomized, blinded, parallel group trial with 6-month follow-up. PLoS One. 2021 May 12;16(5):e0250965. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250965. eCollection 2021.
- Background: PubMed 37976905Wei Z, Hou X, Qi Y, Wang L. Influence of foot strike patterns and cadences on patellofemoral joint stress in male runners with patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther Sport. 2024 Jan;65:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.10.006. Epub 2023 Nov 9.
- Background: PubMed 38175273Klich S, Michalik K, Pietraszewski B, Hansen EA, Madeleine P, Kawczynski A. Effect of applied cadence in repeated sprint cycling on muscle characteristics. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024 May;124(5):1609-1620. doi: 10.1007/s00421-023-05393-z. Epub 2024 Jan 4.
- Background: PubMed 28879617O'Leary TJ, Collett J, Howells K, Morris MG. High but not moderate-intensity endurance training increases pain tolerance: a randomised trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017 Nov;117(11):2201-2210. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3708-8. Epub 2017 Sep 6.
- BackgroundAbbasi, A., Mohammadian, M.A., Abbasi, S. and Bashafaat, H.. The Effect of Changes in Bicycle Pedal Width on the Kinematics of Segments and Joints of Lower Extremity: Analysis of the Risk of Knee Overuse Injuries with Pedaling (A Cross-sectional Study). Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences. 2020;15(6), pp.354-360.
- Background: PubMed 38541224He MY, Lo HP, Chen WH. Effects of Stationary Bikes and Elliptical Machines on Knee Joint Kinematics during Exercise. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Mar 18;60(3):498. doi: 10.3390/medicina60030498.
- Background: PubMed 32904121Wang J, Luo Z, Dai B, Fu W. Effects of 12-week cadence retraining on impact peak, load rates and lower extremity biomechanics in running. PeerJ. 2020 Aug 24;8:e9813. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9813. eCollection 2020.
- Background: PubMed 29037636Aghapour E, Kamali F, Sinaei E. Effects of Kinesio Taping(R) on knee function and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017 Oct;21(4):835-839. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.01.012. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
- Background: PubMed 9922542Blond L, Hansen L. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in athletes: a 5.7-year retrospective follow-up study of 250 athletes. Acta Orthop Belg. 1998 Dec;64(4):393-400.
- Background: PubMed 28652829Petersen W, Rembitzki I, Liebau C. Patellofemoral pain in athletes. Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jun 12;8:143-154. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S133406. eCollection 2017.
- Background: PubMed 29564075Vora M, Curry E, Chipman A, Matzkin E, Li X. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in female athletes: A review of diagnoses, etiology and treatment options. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2018 Feb 20;9(4):7281. doi: 10.4081/or.2017.7281. eCollection 2017 Dec 14.
- Background: PubMed 36123932Lee JH, Shin KH, Han SB, Sun Hwang K, Lee SJ, Jang KM. Prospective comparative study between knee alignment-oriented static and dynamic balance exercise in patellofemoral pain syndrome patients with dynamic knee valgus. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Sep 16;101(37):e30631. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030631.
- 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.
Danish Hassan, PhD principal investigator
Riphah International University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing cadence training and elliptical training in people with Sports Physical Therapy, run by Riphah International University.
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 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 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. 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 Imran Amjad Phd, Phd (03324390125, imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: 6 WEEKS). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07438587, which also lists 14 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 27 Feb 2026.