Runner's KneeNCT07909694
McGill Core and Proprioception Training in Runner's Knee.
A study testing McGill Core stability exercises and Proprioception Training in people with Runner's Knee, run by University of Management and Technology Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Runner's knee, most common condition causing knee pain; is defined by pain around or behind patella in young and physically active individuals. Runner's knee affects 25 to 40% knee patients reported in sports clinic. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Runner's Knee
- What is being tested?
- McGill Core stability exercises and Proprioception Training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 2 Nov 2026to 25 Dec 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
- Athlete with Runner's knee
- Anterior knee pain (NPSR 4-6) during activities
- Contact sports
- Male and Female athletes aged 18-35 years(Raju, Jayaraman et al. 2024)
- Pain persisting ≥ 3 month
- Pain on patellar grind test
Who cannot join
- Patients with recent lower limb fractures or dislocations
- history of Knee/hip joint surgery/trauma
- Signs, symptoms, or radiological findings of intra-articular pathologies, such as effusion, ligamentous or meniscal involvement
- Referred pain from the hip, back, or sacroiliac joint
- history of Acute knee strain or sprain
- Patients on medication such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids
- diagnosed with Degenerative and infectious arthritis
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
University of Management & Technology
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
Saba Riaz, Ms-OMPT, 92 3477510093, sabariaz@umt.edu.pk
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of McGill Core and Proprioception Training on Balance, Agility, Deceleration and Knee Function in Runner's Knee.
Runner's knee, most common condition causing knee pain; is defined by pain around or behind patella in young and physically active individuals. Runner's knee affects 25 to 40% knee patients reported in sports clinic. Exact pathology is unknown but factors such as trauma, overuse, muscular imbalance and maltracking of patella may be involved in causing symptom of runner's knee may continue to increase over years if unmanaged such as limitations in functional activities and poor quality of life. Patient suffering from runner's knee often shows weakness or inactivation of major muscles. A variety of different types of exercise have been explored to treat runner's knee, including neuromuscular training which restores movements by increasing strength, sensorimotor control and stability. However, in this research we will study McGill core and proprioception training effects on runner's knee patients. Objective of this study will be to compare effects of McGill core and proprioception training on balance, agility, deceleration and knee function in athletes with runner's knee. Study design will be randomized clinical trial. Evaluation will be done by using KUJALA, Star Excursion Test, Single leg stance Test, Agility T test and Functional Hop test. Non-probability convenient sampling will be used and the subjects will be allocated to two groups by random allocation. Group A will receive McGill core exercises and Group B will receive Proprioception exercises. Both groups will receive hot pack for 10 minutes as basic treatment of knee pain before techniques application. Both groups will receive 16 sessions for the period of 4 weeks. Measurements of all the outcome variables will be taken at baseline and 4th week. Results will be analysed by using SPSS 24.
- Conditions
- Runner's Knee
- Being tested
- McGill Core stability exercises, Proprioception Training
- Keywords
- pain, agility, rehabilitation, decceleration, proprioception training
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
McGill Core stability exercisesOther
McGill Big three exercises for 15 repetitions with 15 sec hold, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) McGill curl-up Side plank McGill Bird Dog exercise (Hessam et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min
Proprioception TrainingOther
Proprioception exercises for 12 repetitions, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) Single leg stance - eye open to close progression (Hold 20 sec)
1st two weeks eye open than last two week progress with close eye (Pompeo et al.,2022) Y-Balance test training _6 reaches per direction (Zhoe et al., 2026) Wobble board balancing _ 20 sec hold (Ince, B et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| McGill Core Stability Exercises | Experimental | McGill Big three exercises for 15 repetitions with 15 sec hold, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) McGill curl-up Side plank McGill Bird Dog exercise (Hessam et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min Receives: Other: McGill Core stability exercises |
| Proprioception Training | Experimental | Proprioception exercises for 12 repetitions, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) Single leg stance - eye open to close progression (Hold 20 sec)
1st two weeks eye open than last two week progress with close eye (Pompeo et al.,2022) Y-Balance test training _6 reaches per direction (Zhoe et al., 2026) Wobble board balancing _ 20 sec hold (Ince, B et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min Receives: Other: Proprioception Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
KUJALA
Anterior knee pain questionnaire (KUJALA) is used to evaluate knee symptoms and functions mainly in patellofemoral joint disorders. It has high reliability (0.83-0.98) and validity (0.90-0.92, consisting of 13 MCQs that shows how knee act in daily activities demonstrating quadriceps strength and hamstrings flexibility. Each question is scored and total score will be between 0-100; more score indicate improved knee function. According to scores, functional outcomes are divided in poor (0-49), fair (50-69), good (70-89) and outstanding (90-100) giving knee joint condition and validating health.
Measured: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Star Excursion Test
This test is used to access dynamic postural control of lower limb, analyze functional deficits in return to play phase and also identify risk of injuries in individuals. During test, individual stand barefoot in middle of eight lines with feet together, then he try to reach maximum distance along each line with distal portion of reaching foot, touch along line and return to keep balance on support. However when individual retake double leg stance after reach, test is over. The measured distance in centimeters demonstrate the dynamic postural performance of the stance limb
Measured: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Single leg stance
A standardized clinical test for evaluating postural stability and static balance is the Single Leg Stance Test (SLST). It assesses a person's capacity to stay balanced when standing on one limb without assistance. The SLST has shown good to exceptional reliability (ICC = 0.75-0.99) across a range of demographics and is simple to administer without the need for specialist equipment. In both clinical practice and research, SLST is regarded as a viable and dependable outcome measure for assessing balance.
Measured: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Agility T-test
One of the most popular field-based tests for evaluating athletes' agility, change-of-direction speed, acceleration, deceleration, and lateral movement skills is the Agility T-test. Across many sports populations, it has shown acceptable validity and good-to-excellent dependability.
With Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for performance variables ranging from 0.65 to 0.96, a 2026 study employing markerless motion capture found moderate to outstanding test-retest reliability. The authors came to the conclusion that the Agility T-test is a trustworthy technique for evaluating biomechanical traits and agility performance throughout several testing sessions
Measured: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Functional Hop Test
A popular performance-based evaluation for lower-limb function, neuromuscular control, dynamic stability, and preparedness for return to sport after lower-extremity injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, is the Functional Hop Test. It has demonstrated strong construct validity and criterion validity. It effectively differentiates between injured and healthy limbs and correlates with lower-limb muscle strength, dynamic balance, and functional performance.
Measured: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Nov 2026
- Study start2 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion2 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion25 Dec 2026 (estimated)
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 Runner's KneeStudies 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Iqra Shahid, MSPT, Principal investigator, University of management and technology
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07909694
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RE-199-2026
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.
Publications
Yilmaz O, Soylu Y, Erkmen N, Kaplan T, Batalik L. Effects of proprioceptive training on sports performance: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Jul 4;16(1):149. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00936-z.
PubMed 38965588
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of McGill Core and Proprioception Training on Balance, Agility, Deceleration and Knee Function in Runner's Knee.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07909694
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RE-199-2026
- Conditions
- Runner's Knee
- Keywords
- pain, agility, rehabilitation, decceleration, proprioception training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 2 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 25 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Nov 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.
Runner's knee, most common condition causing knee pain; is defined by pain around or behind patella in young and physically active individuals. Runner's knee affects 25 to 40% knee patients reported in sports clinic. Exact pathology is unknown but factors such as trauma, overuse, muscular imbalance and maltracking of patella may be involved in causing symptom of runner's knee may continue to increase over years if unmanaged such as limitations in functional activities and poor quality of life. Patient suffering from runner's knee often shows weakness or inactivation of major muscles. A variety of different types of exercise have been explored to treat runner's knee, including neuromuscular training which restores movements by increasing strength, sensorimotor control and stability. However, in this research we will study McGill core and proprioception training effects on runner's knee patients. Objective of this study will be to compare effects of McGill core and proprioception training on balance, agility, deceleration and knee function in athletes with runner's knee. Study design will be randomized clinical trial. Evaluation will be done by using KUJALA, Star Excursion Test, Single leg stance Test, Agility T test and Functional Hop test. Non-probability convenient sampling will be used and the subjects will be allocated to two groups by random allocation. Group A will receive McGill core exercises and Group B will receive Proprioception exercises. Both groups will receive hot pack for 10 minutes as basic treatment of knee pain before techniques application. Both groups will receive 16 sessions for the period of 4 weeks. Measurements of all the outcome variables will be taken at baseline and 4th week. Results will be analysed by using SPSS 24.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| McGill Core Stability Exercises | Experimental | Other: McGill Core stability exercisesMcGill Big three exercises for 15 repetitions with 15 sec hold, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) McGill curl-up Side plank McGill Bird Dog exercise (Hessam et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min |
| Proprioception Training | Experimental | Other: Proprioception TrainingProprioception exercises for 12 repetitions, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) Single leg stance - eye open to close progression (Hold 20 sec) 1st two weeks eye open than last two week progress with close eye (Pompeo et al.,2022) Y-Balance test training _6 reaches per direction (Zhoe et al., 2026) Wobble board balancing _ 20 sec hold (Ince, B et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Athlete with Runner's knee
- Anterior knee pain (NPSR 4-6) during activities
- Contact sports
- Male and Female athletes aged 18-35 years(Raju, Jayaraman et al. 2024)
- Pain persisting ≥ 3 month
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients with recent lower limb fractures or dislocations
- history of Knee/hip joint surgery/trauma
- Signs, symptoms, or radiological findings of intra-articular pathologies, such as effusion, ligamentous or meniscal involvement
- Referred pain from the hip, back, or sacroiliac joint
- history of Acute knee strain or sprain
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 |
|---|---|---|
| McGill Core stability exercisesMcGill Big three exercises for 15 repetitions with 15 sec hold, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) McGill curl-up Side plank McGill Bird Dog exercise (Hessam et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min | Other | McGill Core Stability Exercises |
| Proprioception TrainingProprioception exercises for 12 repetitions, 3 sets for 4 weeks(4/week) Single leg stance - eye open to close progression (Hold 20 sec) 1st two weeks eye open than last two week progress with close eye (Pompeo et al.,2022) Y-Balance test training _6 reaches per direction (Zhoe et al., 2026) Wobble board balancing _ 20 sec hold (Ince, B et al.,2023) With Baseline treatment: Hot pack for 10min | Other | Proprioception Training |
Primary outcome
KUJALA
Time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
Anterior knee pain questionnaire (KUJALA) is used to evaluate knee symptoms and functions mainly in patellofemoral joint disorders. It has high reliability (0.83-0.98) and validity (0.90-0.92, consisting of 13 MCQs that shows how knee act in daily activities demonstrating quadriceps strength and hamstrings flexibility. Each question is scored and total score will be between 0-100; more score indicate improved knee function. According to scores, functional outcomes are divided in poor (0-49), fair (50-69), good (70-89) and outstanding (90-100) giving knee joint condition and validating health.
Star Excursion Test
Time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
This test is used to access dynamic postural control of lower limb, analyze functional deficits in return to play phase and also identify risk of injuries in individuals. During test, individual stand barefoot in middle of eight lines with feet together, then he try to reach maximum distance along each line with distal portion of reaching foot, touch along line and return to keep balance on support. However when individual retake double leg stance after reach, test is over. The measured distance in centimeters demonstrate the dynamic postural performance of the stance limb
Single leg stance
Time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
A standardized clinical test for evaluating postural stability and static balance is the Single Leg Stance Test (SLST). It assesses a person's capacity to stay balanced when standing on one limb without assistance. The SLST has shown good to exceptional reliability (ICC = 0.75-0.99) across a range of demographics and is simple to administer without the need for specialist equipment. In both clinical practice and research, SLST is regarded as a viable and dependable outcome measure for assessing balance.
Agility T-test
Time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
One of the most popular field-based tests for evaluating athletes' agility, change-of-direction speed, acceleration, deceleration, and lateral movement skills is the Agility T-test. Across many sports populations, it has shown acceptable validity and good-to-excellent dependability. With Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for performance variables ranging from 0.65 to 0.96, a 2026 study employing markerless motion capture found moderate to outstanding test-retest reliability. The authors came to the conclusion that the Agility T-test is a trustworthy technique for evaluating biomechanical traits and agility performance throughout several testing sessions
Functional Hop Test
Time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.
A popular performance-based evaluation for lower-limb function, neuromuscular control, dynamic stability, and preparedness for return to sport after lower-extremity injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, is the Functional Hop Test. It has demonstrated strong construct validity and criterion validity. It effectively differentiates between injured and healthy limbs and correlates with lower-limb muscle strength, dynamic balance, and functional performance.
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 2 Nov 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38965588Yilmaz O, Soylu Y, Erkmen N, Kaplan T, Batalik L. Effects of proprioceptive training on sports performance: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Jul 4;16(1):149. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00936-z.
- Proprioception, the ability to sense the body's position and movement, is essential for athletic performance and physical well-being. The literature highlights the importance of proprioceptive training in rehabilitation, sports performance.Link provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.
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.
Iqra Shahid, MSPT principal investigator
University of management and technology
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing McGill Core stability exercises and Proprioception Training in people with Runner's Knee, run by University of Management and Technology Lahore 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 6 inclusion and 7 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 2 Nov 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 Saba Riaz, MS-OMPT (92 3477510093, sabariaz@umt.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
KUJALA (time frame: Readings will be taken pre treatment and post treatment.). The study lists 5 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 NCT07909694, 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 2 Nov 2026.