NCT07266922

A Self-Directed Web-Based Education for Boston Marathon Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

Running Informed, Not Just Trained: A Self-Directed Web-Based Education for Boston Marathon Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 104 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Boston Children's Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Runners experience diverse lower extremity injuries, and the most common is patellofemoral pain (PFP)-commonly known as "runner's knee" and characterized by pain around and/or behind the kneecap. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week, self-directed, web-based education program for runners competing in the 2026 Boston Marathon. The study will evaluate outcomes, including pain, function, and marathon performance, in runners who use a web-based educational program designed to help them understand and manage knee pain. There will be two groups: Group 1 will receive the 6-week web-based educational program prior to the 2026 Boston Marathon, while Group 2 will serve as the wait-and-see control group (no intervention) prior to the marathon and then receive the same program 6 weeks after completing the marathon.

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Education Platform-MyKneeCap.com	This intervention uses MyKneeCap.com, a free, web-based educational platform designed to help runners understand their knee pain. The platform provides information about patellofemoral pain and includes exercise programs aimed at reducing pain and improving knee function. This intervention does not involve any drugs, devices, or other procedural components.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-20
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2025-12-05
• Last updated: 2026-03-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States