NCT07396948

The Effectiveness of Two Physiotherapy Protocols in the Treatment of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 46 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Gdansk · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in young and active individuals. PFPS is characterized by anterior knee pain. The treatment of choice is conservative management. However, there is still lack of widely accepted physiotherapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating patellofemoral pain. The outcomes of conservative treatment remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two physiotherapy protocols based on manual therapy and muscle training in the treatment of patellofemoral pain

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	medial patellar mobilization	Patellar mobilization was carried out three times for 60 seconds each session \[19\]. The technique was performed by placing the therapist's thumbs on the lateral edge of the patella allowing a patellar glide in the medial and slightly caudal direction. The aim of this technique was to stretch the lateral patellar retinaculum
OTHER	quadriceps muscle stretching	In order to perform this technique the patient was positioned prone on a treatment table (Figure 6). The non-stretched limb remained on the ground, flexed at the hip and knee. Moving this limb forward ensured proper aligment of the lumbar spine, while elevating the heel and placing it on the therapist's foot reduced tension in the hamstring group. Proper execution of the technique could be performed when the pelvis was aligned parallel to the surface, keeping the trunk and thigh of the stretched limb in one line. The therapist grasped by ipsilateral hand the distal third of the patient's lower leg and pulled the heel toward the buttock while by the contralateral hand stabilized the pelvis. The static position of stretching was maintained for 30 seconds in every repetition.
OTHER	training protocol	The training protocol included the following exercise: glute bridges, half squat, rear lunges, side walk with elastic band

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-22
• Primary completion: 2026-03-01
• Completion: 2026-03-01
• First posted: 2026-02-09
• Last updated: 2026-02-09