NCT06610981

Laser Acupuncture on Pain, Range of Motion and Function in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Impact of Laser Acupuncture on Pain, Range of Motion and Function in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is among the most prevalent forms of knee discomfort. The main complaint is typically anterior knee pain, which gets worse while jumping, bending knee, going up or down stairs, or sitting for long periods of time with bent knee. Teens and early adulthood are commonly affected by patellofemoral pain syndrome, with a higher frequency in females. In healthy general populations, the prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome is 22.7%, and in teens, it is 28.9%.

Detailed description

The treatment goals of patellofemoral pain syndrome are to reduce pain, increase muscle strength, increase flexibility, and correct the patellar movement tract. Conservative methods should be used before invasive methods when treating PFPS. One of the ways that people with PFPS may benefit from improved knee function and long-term pain reduction is by strengthening their quadriceps muscles, which primarily reduce force in the patellofemoral joint. Conservative methods described in the literature include the following: modifying activities; electrophysical modalities like biofeedback; therapeutic ultrasound; neuromuscular electrical stimulation; thermotherapy; interferential current; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); knee braces; strengthening the hamstring, anterior tibialis, and gluteal muscles; stretching for iliotibial band and lateral retinaculum.

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Laser acupuncture	Laser acupuncture will be used in this study with energy of 4 J per point for 80 s, with a total dosage of 24 J in each session, 2 times /week for 4 weeks
OTHER	traditional physical therapy	exercise program consisted of stretching for hamstring, gastrocnemius and iliotibial band, and strengthening exercises, which include isometric quadriceps exercises, straight leg raising, lateral straight leg raise, isometric hip adduction and squat to 30° knee flexion, 2 times /week for 4 weeks
DEVICE	Sham laser acupuncture	Participants will receive laser acupuncture while the device is turned off.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-01
• Primary completion: 2025-04-01
• Completion: 2025-05-01
• First posted: 2024-09-24
• Last updated: 2025-05-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt