Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeNCT07630805
Telerehabilitation vs. Conventional PT for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
A study testing Physical Therapy Approaches in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting approximately 25% of active young adults, and it is frequently associated with persistent anterior knee pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Physical Therapy Approaches
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 20 May 2026to Oct 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 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must have a prior clinical diagnosis of PFPS made by an orthopedic physician, which was then confirmed and verified by the principal investigator through physical therapy assessment. The diagnosis is characterized by anterior or retropatellar knee pain aggravated by at least one activity that loads the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing, such as stair climbing, squatting, running, or prolonged sitting.
- Participants aged between 18 and 35 years.
- Participants with BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² to ensure inclusion of individuals within a normal weight range.
- Insidious onset of anterior knee pain with a duration greater than 12 weeks.
- Experienced a minimum pain level of 3/10 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) during activity within the previous week.
Who cannot join
- Participants meeting any of the following conditions will be excluded from the study:
- Individuals with previous knee surgery, fracture, ligament reconstruction, patellar dislocation, osteoarthritis, meniscal injuries, inflammatory joint disease, or other conditions that may mimic or contribute to anterior knee pain.
- Participants with neurological, cardiovascular, or systemic musculoskeletal disorders that may affect gait, strength, or exercise tolerance
- Pregnant women will be excluded due to potential alterations in joint biomechanics and safety considerations during exercise interventions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Hybrid Telerehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Conventional Physical Therapy in Treating Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting approximately 25% of active young adults, and it is frequently associated with persistent anterior knee pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Despite the widespread use of conventional face-to-face physical therapy, many patients experience barriers related to accessibility, cost, and long-term adherence to rehabilitation programs
Read the detailed description
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common, overuse-related musculoskeletal condition causing widespread anterior knee pain that is exacerbated by joint-loading activities like running, squatting, and climbing stairs. Affecting over 22% of the general population, PFPS is a complex disorder with high recurrence rates that frequently frustrate both patients and clinicians. Its etiology is multifactorial, stemming from structural and neuromuscular impairments, particularly quadriceps weakness and reduced gluteal activation, which lead to dynamic knee valgus and excessive joint stress. While conventional in-person physical therapy focusing on targeted strengthening remains the standard treatment, digital healthcare alternatives are rapidly expanding. Telerehabilitation delivers physical therapy remotely using telecommunication technologies through real-time synchronous or recorded asynchronous methods. To combine the benefits of both approaches, hybrid telerehabilitation integrates remote digital tracking with periodic face-to-face clinical sessions. Ultimately, these remote and hybrid models aim to improve patient adherence and reduce financial or logistical barriers like travel time, while maintaining the diagnostic accuracy and personalized feedback of traditional, hands-on care.
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Being tested
- Physical Therapy Approaches
- Keywords
- Telerehabilitation, Conventional Physical Therapy, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Hybrid Telerehabilitation
- 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.
Physical Therapy ApproachesOther
All three groups (Hybrid Telerehabilitation, Pure Telerehabilitation, and Conventional Physical Therapy) followed identical exercise progressions over 6 weeks (3 sessions/week, 18 sessions total) targeting proximal hip and knee strengthening. Exercise dosage, intensity, and progression remained standardized across delivery modes to isolate rehabilitation method effects. The exercise program will progress through three phases to allow gradual restoration of strength, control, and functional ability.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Telerehabilitation | Experimental | Participants allocated to the Hybrid Telerehabilitation group will receive a combination of face to-face and remotely supervised exercise sessions over the 6-week intervention period.
Face-to-face sessions will be used for comprehensive movement assessment, hands-on instruction of new exercises, verification of correct technique, and progression of exercise intensity and resistance. Remotely supervised sessions will be conducted using a secure video-conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom), allowing real-time visual monitoring of exercise execution and provision of verbal and visual feedback by the therapist. Camera positioning guidelines will be provided to ensure adequate visualization of frontal and sagittal plane lower-limb alignment during exercises, particularly during closed-chain and functional tasks. Receives: Other: Physical Therapy Approaches |
| Telerehabilitation | Experimental | Participants in the Telerehabilitation group will complete all 18 exercise sessions (3 sessions per week for 6 weeks) remotely without attending in-person clinic visits. All sessions will be supervised synchronously by the same physical therapist using a real-time video-conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom). Before the start of the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions regarding camera placement, exercise space setup, and safety considerations to ensure accurate observation of movement quality during training sessions. Receives: Other: Physical Therapy Approaches |
| Conventional Physical Therapy | Experimental | Participants assigned to the Conventional Physical Therapy group will receive all 18 exercise sessions through traditional face-to-face supervised treatment at the outpatient physical therapy clinic. Sessions will be conducted three times per week for six consecutive weeks, under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This model represents standard clinical practice for the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome and allows continuous monitoring of exercise performance, immediate correction of faulty movement patterns, and direct verbal feedback during training. During each session, the therapist will ensure correct execution of both hip- and knee focused exercises, reinforce appropriate lower-limb alignment, and adjust exercise intensity and resistance according to predefined progression criteria. Receives: Other: Physical Therapy Approaches |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain intensity
The pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where patients rated their pain at rest and during movement over the previous week on a 0-10 cm scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 representing unbearable pain. Pain scores were recorded before and after the intervention. Interpretation of clinical relevance often goes beyond statistical significance, and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain intensity on the VAS has been investigated in a range of musculoskeletal conditions
Measured: up to 6 weeks
Knee function assessment
Knee function will be evaluated using the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), which is a condition-specific, self-administered questionnaire designed to assess pain severity and functional limitations associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Participants will be asked to complete the questionnaire independently by responding to 13 weighted items that address symptoms and difficulty during daily and sports-related activities that load the patellofemoral joint, including walking, running, stair climbing, squatting, jumping, and prolonged sitting with the knee flexed
Measured: up to 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Dynamic knee valgus assessment
A two-dimensional video analysis measured the knee valgus/varus frontal-plane projection angle (FPPA) during the Single-Legged Drop Jump test following established methodology
Measured: up to 6 weeks
Quadriceps muscle strength assessment
Quadriceps muscle strength will be assessed using the peak torque normalized to body weight (peak torque/body weight, Nm/kg ×100), which will be recorded during maximal knee extension at 60° of knee flexion
Measured: up to 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2026
- Study start20 May 2026
- Primary completionAug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionOct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo 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
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ammar Mohamed Abdelhady Abdelhakiem, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07630805
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006508
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Hybrid Telerehabilitation, Telerehabilitation and Conventional Physical Therapy in Treating Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07630805
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P.T.REC/012/006508
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Keywords
- Telerehabilitation, Conventional Physical Therapy, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Hybrid Telerehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 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 musculoskeletal disorders affecting approximately 25% of active young adults, and it is frequently associated with persistent anterior knee pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Despite the widespread use of conventional face-to-face physical therapy, many patients experience barriers related to accessibility, cost, and long-term adherence to rehabilitation programs
Detailed description
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common, overuse-related musculoskeletal condition causing widespread anterior knee pain that is exacerbated by joint-loading activities like running, squatting, and climbing stairs. Affecting over 22% of the general population, PFPS is a complex disorder with high recurrence rates that frequently frustrate both patients and clinicians. Its etiology is multifactorial, stemming from structural and neuromuscular impairments, particularly quadriceps weakness and reduced gluteal activation, which lead to dynamic knee valgus and excessive joint stress. While conventional in-person physical therapy focusing on targeted strengthening remains the standard treatment, digital healthcare alternatives are rapidly expanding. Telerehabilitation delivers physical therapy remotely using telecommunication technologies through real-time synchronous or recorded asynchronous methods. To combine the benefits of both approaches, hybrid telerehabilitation integrates remote digital tracking with periodic face-to-face clinical sessions. Ultimately, these remote and hybrid models aim to improve patient adherence and reduce financial or logistical barriers like travel time, while maintaining the diagnostic accuracy and personalized feedback of traditional, hands-on care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Telerehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Physical Therapy ApproachesParticipants allocated to the Hybrid Telerehabilitation group will receive a combination of face to-face and remotely supervised exercise sessions over the 6-week intervention period. Face-to-face sessions will be used for comprehensive movement assessment, hands-on instruction of new exercises, verification of correct technique, and progression of exercise intensity and resistance. Remotely supervised sessions will be conducted using a secure video-conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom), allowing real-time visual monitoring of exercise execution and provision of verbal and visual feedback by the therapist. Camera positioning guidelines will be provided to ensure adequate visualization of frontal and sagittal plane lower-limb alignment during exercises, particularly during closed-chain and functional tasks. |
| Telerehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Physical Therapy ApproachesParticipants in the Telerehabilitation group will complete all 18 exercise sessions (3 sessions per week for 6 weeks) remotely without attending in-person clinic visits. All sessions will be supervised synchronously by the same physical therapist using a real-time video-conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom). Before the start of the intervention, participants will receive standardized instructions regarding camera placement, exercise space setup, and safety considerations to ensure accurate observation of movement quality during training sessions. |
| Conventional Physical Therapy | Experimental | Other: Physical Therapy ApproachesParticipants assigned to the Conventional Physical Therapy group will receive all 18 exercise sessions through traditional face-to-face supervised treatment at the outpatient physical therapy clinic. Sessions will be conducted three times per week for six consecutive weeks, under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This model represents standard clinical practice for the management of patellofemoral pain syndrome and allows continuous monitoring of exercise performance, immediate correction of faulty movement patterns, and direct verbal feedback during training. During each session, the therapist will ensure correct execution of both hip- and knee focused exercises, reinforce appropriate lower-limb alignment, and adjust exercise intensity and resistance according to predefined progression criteria. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participants must have a prior clinical diagnosis of PFPS made by an orthopedic physician, which was then confirmed and verified by the principal investigator through physical therapy assessment. The diagnosis is characterized by anterior or retropatellar knee pain aggravated by at least one activity that loads the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing, such as stair climbing, squatting, running, or prolonged sitting.
- Participants aged between 18 and 35 years.
- Participants with BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² to ensure inclusion of individuals within a normal weight range.
- Insidious onset of anterior knee pain with a duration greater than 12 weeks.
- Experienced a minimum pain level of 3/10 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) during activity within the previous week.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Individuals with previous knee surgery, fracture, ligament reconstruction, patellar dislocation, osteoarthritis, meniscal injuries, inflammatory joint disease, or other conditions that may mimic or contribute to anterior knee pain.
- Participants with neurological, cardiovascular, or systemic musculoskeletal disorders that may affect gait, strength, or exercise tolerance
- Pregnant women will be excluded due to potential alterations in joint biomechanics and safety considerations during exercise 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy ApproachesAll three groups (Hybrid Telerehabilitation, Pure Telerehabilitation, and Conventional Physical Therapy) followed identical exercise progressions over 6 weeks (3 sessions/week, 18 sessions total) targeting proximal hip and knee strengthening. Exercise dosage, intensity, and progression remained standardized across delivery modes to isolate rehabilitation method effects. The exercise program will progress through three phases to allow gradual restoration of strength, control, and functional ability. | Other | Conventional Physical Therapy, Hybrid Telerehabilitation, Telerehabilitation |
Primary outcome
Pain intensity
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
The pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where patients rated their pain at rest and during movement over the previous week on a 0-10 cm scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 representing unbearable pain. Pain scores were recorded before and after the intervention. Interpretation of clinical relevance often goes beyond statistical significance, and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain intensity on the VAS has been investigated in a range of musculoskeletal conditions
Knee function assessment
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
Knee function will be evaluated using the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), which is a condition-specific, self-administered questionnaire designed to assess pain severity and functional limitations associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Participants will be asked to complete the questionnaire independently by responding to 13 weighted items that address symptoms and difficulty during daily and sports-related activities that load the patellofemoral joint, including walking, running, stair climbing, squatting, jumping, and prolonged sitting with the knee flexed
2 secondary outcomes
Dynamic knee valgus assessment
Time frame: up to 6 weeks
Quadriceps muscle strength assessment
Time frame: up to 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 5 Jun 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. 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 Physical Therapy Approaches in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 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 Egypt. 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?
Pain intensity (time frame: up to 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 5 Jun 2026.