PainNCT07756918
Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Dry Needling on Jumpers Knee
A study testing Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy and Dry Needling in people with Pain and Quality of Life, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The study is randomized and single-blinded. Ethical approval is taken from ethical committee of Riphah International University, Lahore. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled and allocated in group A \& B through sealed envelope method by Non-probability Convenient random sampling technique. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain, Quality of Life, Jumper's Knee
- What is being tested?
- Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy and Dry Needling
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 15 Oct 2025to 30 Aug 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 of either gender between the age of 18-35 years with a confirmed diagnosis of jumper's knee for more than 1 month.
- Confirmed diagnosis of jumper's knee for more than 1 month.
- Pain NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) score greater than 4 at the first evaluation.
Who cannot join
- Surgery around the knee joint within the last 6 months.
- Chronic knee joint disease.
- Knee pain management with corticosteroid injections in the last 3 months.
- Trauma history
- Systemic illness
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hameed Latif Hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
Amna Shahid, t-DPT, 03344512823, amna.shahid@riphah.edu.pk
Waqas Qadir, DPT, 03174556495, moni91703@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Dry Needling on Pain, Knee Function and Quality of Life in Jumpers Knee
The study is randomized and single-blinded. Ethical approval is taken from ethical committee of Riphah International University, Lahore. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled and allocated in group A \& B through sealed envelope method by Non-probability Convenient random sampling technique. Subjects in Group A will receive Shock wave therapy. Group B will receive Dry needing.
Read the detailed description
Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper's knee) remains, nowadays, a therapeutic challenge because of the unclear mechanism that induces this condition and related symptoms. Overloading or incorrect training, hard playing surfaces, and inadequate equipment are implicated as extrinsic risk factors, while age, sex, biotype, internal load, lower limb length discrepancy or abnormality (alignment defects or lower limb rotational defect, foot abnormalities and constitutional laxity) have been considered predisposing factors. The aim of present study is to compare the effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy versus Dry needling for Pain Management, knee function and QOL in Jumpers Knee. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy versus Dry needling for Pain Management, knee function and QOL in Jumpers Knee.
This study will be randomized clinical trial in which 48 individuals will be randomized through non-probability convenient sampling by lottery method into 2 groups. Group A will undergo Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and group B will receive Dry needling. To evaluate the acute effects of the training protocols, assessments will be conducted pre- and post-intervention using the measures relevant to on Pain (NPRS), knee function (VISA-P score) and Quality of Life (KOS-ADL) are performed before and after the training sessions. The duration of training sessions will be 10 weeks with 2-3 treatment sessions per week.
- Conditions
- Pain, Quality of Life, Jumper's Knee
- Being tested
- Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy, Dry Needling
- Keywords
- dry needling, extra-corporeal shock wave therapy, pain, jumper knee
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Extracorporeal Shockwave therapyOther
The participants in this group will receive Extracorporeal shockwave therapy with baseline treatment. The Frequency of sessions will be 3-5 sessions. The Intensity of the exercise related to energy levels as Low to medium energy flux density (EFD) ranges from 0.08 to 0.28 mJ/mm²
Dry NeedlingOther
Frequency Will be 3 sessions per week. Repeated sessions over several weeks are often necessary for optimal tendon remodeling and pain relief. Intensity will be according to the depth and response-based application, Needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) or directly into tendon tissue (peritendinous or intra-tendinous)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy | Experimental | Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy Receives: Other: Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy |
| Dry needling | Experimental | Dry needling Receives: Other: Dry Needling |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
numeric pain rating scale
pain will be evaluated through numeric pain rating scale, The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an 11-point scale from 0 to 10. Patients select a whole number matching their pain intensity, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain imaginable. Scores are grouped into mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10) pain levels
Measured: Pre and 6 week post interventional
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Patella
Knee Function measured through the VISA-P (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Patella) score has a maximum value of 100 points for a healthy, pain-free individual, with a theoretical minimum of 0. It consists of eight questions assessing pain, functional severity, and sports capacity. You can calculate your score interactively using online tools like the VISA-P Questionnaire.
Measured: Pre and 6 week post interventional
Quality Of life measure through KOS-ADLS
The Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS):
The KOS-ADLS is a 14-item self-reported questionnaire designed to evaluate symptoms and limitation during activities of daily living among patients with various knee disorders
Measured: Pre and 6 week post interventional
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Aug 2026
- Study start15 Oct 2025
- Primary completion15 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PainStudies 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
- Model description
- Randomized Clinical Trail
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Waqas Qadir, DPT, Principal investigator, Study Principal Investigator
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07756918
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0418
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 11 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Vulpiani MC, Vetrano M, Savoia V, Di Pangrazio E, Trischitta D, Ferretti A. Jumper's knee treatment with extracorporeal shock wave therapy: a long-term follow-up observational study. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2007 Sep;47(3):323-8.
PubMed 17641600Tiemessen IJ, Kuijer PP, Hulshof CT, Frings-Dresen MH. Risk factors for developing jumper's knee in sport and occupation: a review. BMC Res Notes. 2009 Jul 8;2:127. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-2-127.
PubMed 19586529
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Dry Needling on Pain, Knee Function and Quality of Life in Jumpers Knee
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07756918
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0418
- Conditions
- Pain, Quality of Life, Jumper's Knee
- Keywords
- dry needling, extra-corporeal shock wave therapy, pain, jumper knee
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Aug 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.
The study is randomized and single-blinded. Ethical approval is taken from ethical committee of Riphah International University, Lahore. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled and allocated in group A \& B through sealed envelope method by Non-probability Convenient random sampling technique. Subjects in Group A will receive Shock wave therapy. Group B will receive Dry needing.
Detailed description
Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper's knee) remains, nowadays, a therapeutic challenge because of the unclear mechanism that induces this condition and related symptoms. Overloading or incorrect training, hard playing surfaces, and inadequate equipment are implicated as extrinsic risk factors, while age, sex, biotype, internal load, lower limb length discrepancy or abnormality (alignment defects or lower limb rotational defect, foot abnormalities and constitutional laxity) have been considered predisposing factors. The aim of present study is to compare the effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy versus Dry needling for Pain Management, knee function and QOL in Jumpers Knee. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy versus Dry needling for Pain Management, knee function and QOL in Jumpers Knee.
This study will be randomized clinical trial in which 48 individuals will be randomized through non-probability convenient sampling by lottery method into 2 groups. Group A will undergo Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and group B will receive Dry needling. To evaluate the acute effects of the training protocols, assessments will be conducted pre- and post-intervention using the measures relevant to on Pain (NPRS), knee function (VISA-P score) and Quality of Life (KOS-ADL) are performed before and after the training sessions. The duration of training sessions will be 10 weeks with 2-3 treatment sessions per week.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized Clinical Trail
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy | Experimental | Other: Extracorporeal Shockwave therapyExtracorporeal Shockwave therapy |
| Dry needling | Experimental | Other: Dry NeedlingDry needling |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participants of either gender between the age of 18-35 years with a confirmed diagnosis of jumper's knee for more than 1 month.
- Confirmed diagnosis of jumper's knee for more than 1 month.
- Pain NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) score greater than 4 at the first evaluation.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Surgery around the knee joint within the last 6 months.
- Chronic knee joint disease.
- Knee pain management with corticosteroid injections in the last 3 months.
- Trauma history
- Systemic illness
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Extracorporeal Shockwave therapyThe participants in this group will receive Extracorporeal shockwave therapy with baseline treatment. The Frequency of sessions will be 3-5 sessions. The Intensity of the exercise related to energy levels as Low to medium energy flux density (EFD) ranges from 0.08 to 0.28 mJ/mm² | Other | Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy |
| Dry NeedlingFrequency Will be 3 sessions per week. Repeated sessions over several weeks are often necessary for optimal tendon remodeling and pain relief. Intensity will be according to the depth and response-based application, Needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) or directly into tendon tissue (peritendinous or intra-tendinous) | Other | Dry needling |
Primary outcome
numeric pain rating scale
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
pain will be evaluated through numeric pain rating scale, The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an 11-point scale from 0 to 10. Patients select a whole number matching their pain intensity, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain imaginable. Scores are grouped into mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10) pain levels
Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Patella
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
Knee Function measured through the VISA-P (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Patella) score has a maximum value of 100 points for a healthy, pain-free individual, with a theoretical minimum of 0. It consists of eight questions assessing pain, functional severity, and sports capacity. You can calculate your score interactively using online tools like the VISA-P Questionnaire.
Quality Of life measure through KOS-ADLS
Time frame: Pre and 6 week post interventional
The Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS): The KOS-ADLS is a 14-item self-reported questionnaire designed to evaluate symptoms and limitation during activities of daily living among patients with various knee disorders
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 11 Aug 2026.
- Background: PubMed 17641600Vulpiani MC, Vetrano M, Savoia V, Di Pangrazio E, Trischitta D, Ferretti A. Jumper's knee treatment with extracorporeal shock wave therapy: a long-term follow-up observational study. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2007 Sep;47(3):323-8.
- Background: PubMed 19586529Tiemessen IJ, Kuijer PP, Hulshof CT, Frings-Dresen MH. Risk factors for developing jumper's knee in sport and occupation: a review. BMC Res Notes. 2009 Jul 8;2:127. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-2-127.
- 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.
Waqas Qadir, DPT principal investigator
Study Principal Investigator
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy and Dry Needling in people with Pain and Quality of Life, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 3 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Aug 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 Pakistan. 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?
Contact Amna Shahid, t-dpt (0334-4512823, amna.shahid@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: Pre and 6 week post interventional). 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 NCT07756918, which also lists 2 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 11 Aug 2026.