Patellofemoral PainNCT07542236
Effects of Hip and Ankle Mobility Rehabilitation in Male Collegiate Athletes With Patellofemoral Pain
A study testing Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program in people with Patellofemoral Pain, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study evaluates whether a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program can improve pain, knee-related function, neuromuscular coordination, and physical performance in male soccer players with patellofemoral pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Pain
- What is being tested?
- Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2026to 4 Mar 2026
- 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 18 to 25 years
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male soccer players aged 18 to 25 years At least 3 years of systematic soccer training experience Currently participating in organized soccer training at least 3 times per week Peripatellar or retropatellar pain consistent with patellofemoral pain Pain provoked during at least one load-bearing knee-flexion activity, including squatting, stair ambulation, running, jumping, or prolonged sitting Patellofemoral pain reproducible during squatting Symptom duration of at least 4 weeks Able to complete all testing and intervention procedures
Who cannot join
- History of knee surgery or major lower-limb surgery Acute lower-limb injury within the previous 6 months Other diagnoses that could explain anterior knee pain, including ligament injury, meniscal injury, patellar instability, osteoarthritis, or other tibiofemoral pathology Neurological or systemic disease affecting exercise performance Current participation in other structured lower-limb rehabilitation interventions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of a Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program on Pain, Neuromuscular Coordination, and Physical Performance in Soccer Players With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study evaluates whether a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program can improve pain, knee-related function, neuromuscular coordination, and physical performance in male soccer players with patellofemoral pain. Patellofemoral pain is a common condition in soccer players and may affect training tolerance, movement control, and sports performance. In this randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned to either an intervention group receiving hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation in addition to regular soccer training or a control group continuing regular soccer training alone. The rehabilitation program is performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Main outcomes include pain intensity and knee-related function. Additional outcomes include hip and ankle range of motion, vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing, Y-Balance Test performance, and countermovement jump height. This study aims to determine whether improving proximal and distal joint mobility can contribute to better clinical and functional recovery in soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
Read the detailed description
Patellofemoral pain is one of the most common overuse-related knee problems in soccer players and is often associated with pain during running, squatting, stair ambulation, jumping, landing, and other load-bearing activities. In addition to pain, patellofemoral pain may impair movement control, neuromuscular function, and lower-limb performance. Increasing evidence suggests that patellofemoral pain should not be viewed only as a local knee disorder, but also in relation to proximal and distal dysfunction within the lower-limb kinetic chain. Restricted hip mobility may alter pelvic and femoral motion during functional tasks, whereas limited ankle dorsiflexion may affect shock absorption, tibial progression, and movement strategy during squatting, landing, deceleration, and change-of-direction tasks. Therefore, improving hip and ankle mobility may represent a clinically relevant rehabilitation strategy for soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
This study uses a randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group design to examine the effects of a hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program in male soccer players with patellofemoral pain. A total of 48 participants are allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group performs a 6-week rehabilitation program focused on hip internal and external rotation mobility, ankle dorsiflexion mobility, and integrated lower-limb movement exercises, 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session, while continuing regular soccer training. The control group continues regular soccer training without additional structured hip or ankle mobility intervention.
The primary outcomes are pain intensity assessed by visual analog scale and knee-related function assessed by Kujala score. Secondary outcomes include hip internal rotation range of motion, hip external rotation range of motion, weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion, vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing during a standardized bilateral squat task, Y-Balance Test composite score, and countermovement jump height. Assessments are performed at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a mobility-oriented rehabilitation approach can improve both clinical outcomes and functional performance-related measures in soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain
- Being tested
- Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program
- Keywords
- Soccer, Patellofemoral pain, Rehabilitation, Hip mobility, Ankle mobility
- 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.
Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation ProgramBehavioural
A 6-week rehabilitation program performed 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session. The program includes standardized warm-up, hip mobility training, ankle mobility training, and integrated movement exercises designed to improve hip internal and external rotation mobility, ankle dorsiflexion, and lower-limb movement control in soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation | Experimental | Participants receive a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program, performed 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session, in addition to regular soccer training. Receives: Behavioral: Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program |
| Control | No intervention | Participants continue regular soccer training during the same 6-week period and do not receive any additional structured hip or ankle mobility intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Average anterior knee pain related to patellofemoral pain assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Knee-related function assessed by Kujala score
Knee-related function assessed using the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale. Higher scores indicate better knee-related function.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (6)
Hip internal rotation range of motion
Hip internal rotation range of motion measured in degrees using a standard goniometer.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Hip external rotation range of motion
Hip external rotation range of motion measured in degrees using a standard goniometer.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion assessed by weight-bearing lunge test
Weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion measured as the maximum toe-to-wall distance in centimeters during the weight-bearing lunge test.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing
Relative onset timing difference between vastus medialis and vastus lateralis measured during a standardized bilateral squat task using surface electromyography.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Y-Balance Test composite score
Dynamic balance performance assessed using the Y-Balance Test composite score.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Countermovement jump height
Lower-limb performance assessed by countermovement jump height measured using a force platform.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Apr 2026
- Study start15 Jan 2026
- Primary completion2 Mar 2026
- Study completion4 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Patellofemoral PainStudies 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
- Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group receiving a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program in addition to regular soccer training or a control group continuing regular soccer training alone.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yue Dou, Beijing Sport University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07542236
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- XAIPE-PFP-2025-01
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Xu H, Feng Z, Dou Y, Wang G. Effects of a 6-Week Hip and Ankle Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program on Clinical, Neuromuscular, and Functional Outcomes in Male Collegiate Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Life (Basel). 2026 Jun 17;16(6):1013. doi: 10.3390/life16061013.
PubMed 42355539
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program on Pain, Neuromuscular Coordination, and Physical Performance in Soccer Players With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07542236
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- XAIPE-PFP-2025-01
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain
- Keywords
- Soccer, Patellofemoral pain, Rehabilitation, Hip mobility, Ankle mobility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Sport UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Apr 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.
This study evaluates whether a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program can improve pain, knee-related function, neuromuscular coordination, and physical performance in male soccer players with patellofemoral pain. Patellofemoral pain is a common condition in soccer players and may affect training tolerance, movement control, and sports performance. In this randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned to either an intervention group receiving hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation in addition to regular soccer training or a control group continuing regular soccer training alone. The rehabilitation program is performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Main outcomes include pain intensity and knee-related function. Additional outcomes include hip and ankle range of motion, vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing, Y-Balance Test performance, and countermovement jump height. This study aims to determine whether improving proximal and distal joint mobility can contribute to better clinical and functional recovery in soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
Detailed description
Patellofemoral pain is one of the most common overuse-related knee problems in soccer players and is often associated with pain during running, squatting, stair ambulation, jumping, landing, and other load-bearing activities. In addition to pain, patellofemoral pain may impair movement control, neuromuscular function, and lower-limb performance. Increasing evidence suggests that patellofemoral pain should not be viewed only as a local knee disorder, but also in relation to proximal and distal dysfunction within the lower-limb kinetic chain. Restricted hip mobility may alter pelvic and femoral motion during functional tasks, whereas limited ankle dorsiflexion may affect shock absorption, tibial progression, and movement strategy during squatting, landing, deceleration, and change-of-direction tasks. Therefore, improving hip and ankle mobility may represent a clinically relevant rehabilitation strategy for soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
This study uses a randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group design to examine the effects of a hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program in male soccer players with patellofemoral pain. A total of 48 participants are allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group performs a 6-week rehabilitation program focused on hip internal and external rotation mobility, ankle dorsiflexion mobility, and integrated lower-limb movement exercises, 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session, while continuing regular soccer training. The control group continues regular soccer training without additional structured hip or ankle mobility intervention.
The primary outcomes are pain intensity assessed by visual analog scale and knee-related function assessed by Kujala score. Secondary outcomes include hip internal rotation range of motion, hip external rotation range of motion, weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion, vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing during a standardized bilateral squat task, Y-Balance Test composite score, and countermovement jump height. Assessments are performed at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a mobility-oriented rehabilitation approach can improve both clinical outcomes and functional performance-related measures in soccer players with patellofemoral pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group receiving a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program in addition to regular soccer training or a control group continuing regular soccer training alone.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation | Experimental | Behavioral: Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation ProgramParticipants receive a 6-week hip- and ankle-mobility-based rehabilitation program, performed 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session, in addition to regular soccer training. |
| Control | No intervention | –Participants continue regular soccer training during the same 6-week period and do not receive any additional structured hip or ankle mobility intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Male soccer players aged 18 to 25 years At least 3 years of systematic soccer training experience Currently participating in organized soccer training at least 3 times per week Peripatellar or retropatellar pain consistent with patellofemoral pain Pain provoked during at least one load-bearing knee-flexion activity, including squatting, stair ambulation, running, jumping, or prolonged sitting Patellofemoral pain reproducible during squatting Symptom duration of at least 4 weeks Able to complete all testing and intervention procedures
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- History of knee surgery or major lower-limb surgery Acute lower-limb injury within the previous 6 months Other diagnoses that could explain anterior knee pain, including ligament injury, meniscal injury, patellar instability, osteoarthritis, or other tibiofemoral pathology Neurological or systemic disease affecting exercise performance Current participation in other structured lower-limb rehabilitation interventions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation ProgramA 6-week rehabilitation program performed 3 times per week for approximately 30 minutes per session. The program includes standardized warm-up, hip mobility training, ankle mobility training, and integrated movement exercises designed to improve hip internal and external rotation mobility, ankle dorsiflexion, and lower-limb movement control in soccer players with patellofemoral pain. | Behavioural | Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation |
Primary outcome
Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Average anterior knee pain related to patellofemoral pain assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Knee-related function assessed by Kujala score
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Knee-related function assessed using the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale. Higher scores indicate better knee-related function.
6 secondary outcomes
Hip internal rotation range of motion
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Hip external rotation range of motion
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion assessed by weight-bearing lunge test
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Vastus medialis-vastus lateralis onset timing
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Y-Balance Test composite score
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Countermovement jump height
Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
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 30 Apr 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42355539Xu H, Feng Z, Dou Y, Wang G. Effects of a 6-Week Hip and Ankle Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program on Clinical, Neuromuscular, and Functional Outcomes in Male Collegiate Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Life (Basel). 2026 Jun 17;16(6):1013. doi: 10.3390/life16061013.
- 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 Hip- and Ankle-Mobility-Based Rehabilitation Program in people with Patellofemoral Pain, run by Beijing Sport University at 1 site in China.
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 1 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 30 Apr 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 China. 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?
Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (time frame: Baseline and 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?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07542236, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 30 Apr 2026.