Patellofemoral Pain SyndromePFPSNCT07664566
Core Stability Exercises Versus Proprioceptive Training on Pain and Function in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
A study testing Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training and traditional therapy in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, run by Cairo University.
Trial summary
This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of core stability exercises versus proprioceptive training in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training and traditional therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 63 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2026to 20 Mar 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 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- A confirmed diagnosis of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) based on clinical and radiographic examination, with no evidence of other knee pathologies, as verified by an orthopaedic physician
- Presence of unilateral PFPS for a minimum duration of three months, indicating a chronic condition
- Age between 18 and 40 years, representing the typical symptomatic population affected by PFPS
- Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m², ensuring exclusion of obesity as a confounding factor.
- Report of increased anterior knee pain during at least two of the following patellofemoral stress-provoking activities: stair ascent or descent, squatting, kneeling, running, or prolonged sitting
- A positive patellar grind test (Clarke's sign) confirming involvement of the patellofemoral joint
Who cannot join
- Presence of chronic pain conditions unrelated to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) as Rheumatoid arthritis, Chronic neuropathic pain, chronic low back pain and knee and hip osteoarthritis.
- Pregnancy or history of recent trauma affecting the pelvic or knee region
- History of corticosteroid injection in the affected knee
- Presence of ankle arthritis or gouty arthritis, which may alter lower-limb biomechanics
- History of previous surgical intervention involving the lumbar spine, hip, knee, or foot
- Presence of lower-limb structural deformities, including pes planus, knee valgus, or knee varus deformities
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
This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of core stability exercises versus proprioceptive training in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Read the detailed description
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders causing anterior knee pain, particularly during activities that increase patellofemoral joint stress such as squatting, stair climbing, running, or prolonged sitting .Core stability exercises play a fundamental role in maintaining the kinetic chain alignment between the trunk, pelvis, and lower limb. Dysfunction of the lumbopelvic-hip complex can lead to compensatory movement patterns, increasing stress on the knee joint. Strengthening the core muscles, particularly the transversus abdominis, multifidus, and gluteal muscles, enhances postural control and optimizes force transmission during dynamic activities. Proprioceptive training, on the other hand, targets sensorimotor control by enhancing afferent feedback and neuromuscular coordination. Individuals with PFPS often present with impaired joint position sense and delayed neuromuscular responses around the knee, which may contribute to joint instability and persistent pain. Proprioceptive exercises, including balance, perturbation, and kinesthetic training, improve joint stability and coordination by stimulating mechanoreceptors and enhancing central processing of sensory input.Therefore, this study will aim to fill an important gap in the current literature by directly comparing the effects of core stabilization exercises and proprioceptive training on pain intensity, pain pressure threshold, quadriceps muscle strength, and proprioceptive acuity of knee, knee joint range of motion and functional ability in patients with PFPS
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Being tested
- Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training, traditional therapy
- Keywords
- Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Pain and Function
- Medical subject headings
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Core Stability ExercisesOther
core stability exercises including warm-up, main training, and cool-down phases; warm up exercises in the form of Cat-Camel exercise will be performed for 5-8 cycles to mobilize the spine and promote smooth segmental motion. The primary main training consisted of McGill's "Big Three" core stabilization exercises, which emphasize endurance and control of the deep stabilizing muscles, curl up, side bridge, and Quadrupedal stance, finallly the cool down phase had dynamic stretching at the end of each session to reduce muscle tension and promote recovery plus tradional therapy
Proprioceptive TrainingOther
proprioceptive training consisted of group of exercises for balance on 1 leg on a stable surface and a unstable surface. in addition to tradional therapy.
traditional therapyOther
tradional therapy in the form of interferential therapy, knee strengthening exercises, knee strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, patellar mobilization and ischemic compression
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability Exercises | Experimental | twenty one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive Core stability exercises + traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. Receives: Other: Core Stability Exercises; Other: traditional therapy |
| Proprioceptive Training | Experimental | Twenty-one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive proprioceptive exercises + traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. Receives: Other: Proprioceptive Training; Other: traditional therapy |
| traditional therapy | Active comparator | twenty one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. Receives: Other: traditional therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
pain intensity
pain will be assessed by VAS which line on a 100 mm , where 0 indicates no pain and 100 indicates the worst possible pain.
Measured: up to four weeks
knee disability
knee disability will be assessed by Kujala Patellofemoral Questionnaire.Which is a 13-item questionnaire including different items on pain related to functioning and activities. The categories within each item are weighted and item scores summed to provide an overall index scored from 0 to 100, where the maximum score of 100 represents no disability.
Measured: up to four weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
pressure pain threshold
The pressure algometer will be used to assess pressure pain threshold
Measured: up to four weeks
knee range of motion
The electro goniometer will be used to assess knee range of motion.
Measured: up to four weeks
knee proprioception (joint position error)
proprioception will beassesseds by electrogoniometer. The participant's knee will be passively positioned at a target angle (e.g., 30° flexion) then returned to the starting position, then the patient will be asked to actively reproduce the target angle.The absolute angular error (degrees) between the target and reproduced angles will be recorded.
Measured: up to four weeks
quadriceps muscle strength
Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured by a handheld dynamometer.
Measured: up to four weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jun 2026
- Study start30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion20 Mar 2027 (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
- Model description
- Core Stability Exercises and Proprioceptive Training
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 63 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mohamed Hassan Ibrahim Salama, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07664566
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006411
- Acronym
- PFPS
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 24 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 24 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Core Stability Exercises Versus Proprioceptive Training on Pain and Function in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07664566
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PFPS / P.T.REC/012/006411
- Conditions
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Keywords
- Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Pain and Function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 63 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 20 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 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.
This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of core stability exercises versus proprioceptive training in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Detailed description
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders causing anterior knee pain, particularly during activities that increase patellofemoral joint stress such as squatting, stair climbing, running, or prolonged sitting .Core stability exercises play a fundamental role in maintaining the kinetic chain alignment between the trunk, pelvis, and lower limb. Dysfunction of the lumbopelvic-hip complex can lead to compensatory movement patterns, increasing stress on the knee joint. Strengthening the core muscles, particularly the transversus abdominis, multifidus, and gluteal muscles, enhances postural control and optimizes force transmission during dynamic activities. Proprioceptive training, on the other hand, targets sensorimotor control by enhancing afferent feedback and neuromuscular coordination. Individuals with PFPS often present with impaired joint position sense and delayed neuromuscular responses around the knee, which may contribute to joint instability and persistent pain. Proprioceptive exercises, including balance, perturbation, and kinesthetic training, improve joint stability and coordination by stimulating mechanoreceptors and enhancing central processing of sensory input.Therefore, this study will aim to fill an important gap in the current literature by directly comparing the effects of core stabilization exercises and proprioceptive training on pain intensity, pain pressure threshold, quadriceps muscle strength, and proprioceptive acuity of knee, knee joint range of motion and functional ability in patients with PFPS
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Core Stability Exercises and Proprioceptive Training
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability Exercises | Experimental | Other: Core Stability Exercises, Other: traditional therapytwenty one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive Core stability exercises + traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. |
| Proprioceptive Training | Experimental | Other: Proprioceptive Training, Other: traditional therapyTwenty-one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive proprioceptive exercises + traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. |
| traditional therapy | Active comparator | Other: traditional therapytwenty one patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive traditional physical therapy three times a week for four weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- A confirmed diagnosis of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) based on clinical and radiographic examination, with no evidence of other knee pathologies, as verified by an orthopaedic physician
- Presence of unilateral PFPS for a minimum duration of three months, indicating a chronic condition
- Age between 18 and 40 years, representing the typical symptomatic population affected by PFPS
- Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m², ensuring exclusion of obesity as a confounding factor.
- Report of increased anterior knee pain during at least two of the following patellofemoral stress-provoking activities: stair ascent or descent, squatting, kneeling, running, or prolonged sitting
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Presence of chronic pain conditions unrelated to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) as Rheumatoid arthritis, Chronic neuropathic pain, chronic low back pain and knee and hip osteoarthritis.
- Pregnancy or history of recent trauma affecting the pelvic or knee region
- History of corticosteroid injection in the affected knee
- Presence of ankle arthritis or gouty arthritis, which may alter lower-limb biomechanics
- History of previous surgical intervention involving the lumbar spine, hip, knee, or foot
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability Exercisescore stability exercises including warm-up, main training, and cool-down phases; warm up exercises in the form of Cat-Camel exercise will be performed for 5-8 cycles to mobilize the spine and promote smooth segmental motion. The primary main training consisted of McGill's "Big Three" core stabilization exercises, which emphasize endurance and control of the deep stabilizing muscles, curl up, side bridge, and Quadrupedal stance, finallly the cool down phase had dynamic stretching at the end of each session to reduce muscle tension and promote recovery plus tradional therapy | Other | Core Stability Exercises |
| Proprioceptive Trainingproprioceptive training consisted of group of exercises for balance on 1 leg on a stable surface and a unstable surface. in addition to tradional therapy. | Other | Proprioceptive Training |
| traditional therapytradional therapy in the form of interferential therapy, knee strengthening exercises, knee strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, patellar mobilization and ischemic compression | Other | Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training, traditional therapy |
Primary outcome
pain intensity
Time frame: up to four weeks
pain will be assessed by VAS which line on a 100 mm , where 0 indicates no pain and 100 indicates the worst possible pain.
knee disability
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee disability will be assessed by Kujala Patellofemoral Questionnaire.Which is a 13-item questionnaire including different items on pain related to functioning and activities. The categories within each item are weighted and item scores summed to provide an overall index scored from 0 to 100, where the maximum score of 100 represents no disability.
4 secondary outcomes
pressure pain threshold
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee range of motion
Time frame: up to four weeks
knee proprioception (joint position error)
Time frame: up to four weeks
quadriceps muscle strength
Time frame: up to four 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 24 Jun 2026.
Related trials for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
RecruitingObservational study
MRI Study of Musculoskeletal Function
Abnormalities, Imaging
RecruitingObservational study
Assessing the Association Between WBCT PFJ Morphological Metrics and Knee Symptoms
Knee Osteoarthritis, Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS)
RecruitingPhase 3
Comparing the Outcome of Electrical Stimulation and Physical Therapy in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Not yet recruiting
The Effect of a Treatment Protocol Focused on Neuromuscular Control Exercises on Pain and Function in a Subgroup of Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain
Patellofemoral Pain
Active, not recruiting
Telerehabilitation for Patellofemoral Pain
Patellofemoral Pain, PFP
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 Core Stability Exercises, Proprioceptive Training and traditional therapy in people with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, run by Cairo 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 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jun 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 mohamed hassan, phd (0 11 21363081, mohamed.hassan.salama7@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
pain intensity (time frame: up to four 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 24 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 27 Oct 2026.