NCT02352909

A Controlled Trial on Recreational Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

A Randomised Controlled Trial on Recreational Runners With Patellofemoral Pain: Effects of Rehabilitation Approaches Based on Specific Underlying Mechanisms

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 69 (actual)
• Sponsor: Laval University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

From a rehabilitation point of view, while several approaches exist to retrain runners with PFPS, it is not clear which one is most effective, or why. The goals of this randomised-controlled trial are: 1) to compare the effectiveness of three rehabilitation programs on pain and functional limitations of runners with PFPS and 2) to explain why the programs are effective or not based on laboratory analyses. After baseline evaluation, runners will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each with a specific 8-week rehabilitation program aimed at addressing the efficiency of a specific type of retraining. These groups are: 1) Control; 2) muscle recruitment; 3) reducing knee loading during running. The investigators hypothesis is that the intervention targeting a reduction in knee loading will be significantly more effective in reducing symptoms and improving function of runners with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Detailed description

Hypothesis will be tested using symptoms and functional status questionnaires. In addition, mechanistic analyses will be conducted using a running assessment using an instrumented treadmill and kinematics analyses.

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Education	Education on running training modifications depending on symptoms (decrease running speed, spread running volume throughout the week, run/walk intervals, avoid downhill and stairs running). Education about symptoms will also be provided.
OTHER	Exercise program	A home-based program including strengthening and motor control exercises will be prescribed. The program will include 4 different phases of 2 weeks.
OTHER	Gait retraining	Running gait will be modified to reduce knee loading while running (step frequency, impact, foot strike pattern).

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-07-01
• Primary completion: 2016-05-01
• Completion: 2016-05-01
• First posted: 2015-02-02
• Last updated: 2016-09-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada