An exercise protocol for the prevention of acute anterior knee pain (AKP) in military recruits undergoing phase 1 training

Completed

Conditions: Anterior knee pain (AKP)/patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Other and unspecified injuries of lower leg

Registration Number: ISRCTN61493628

Lead Sponsor: Army Recruitment Training Division (ARTD) (UK)

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 2762

Inclusion Criteria

British Army recruits (aged 17 - 25 years, either sex) undergoing phase 1 training will fulfil the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the trial if they exhibit signs and symptoms of AKP with no evidence of any other specific pathologic condition. The inclusion criteria is:
1. Anterior or retropatellar pain arising from at least two of the following: prolonged sitting, stair-climbing, squatting, running, kneeling, hopping/jumping
2. Insidious onset of symptoms unrelated to a traumatic incident
3. Presence of pain on palpation of the patellar facets, on step down from a step, or during a double-legged squat

Exclusion Criteria

1. Signs and symptoms of meniscal or other intra-articular pathologic condition
2. Ligament laxity or tenderness
3. Tenderness over the patellar tendon, illiotibial band, or pes-anserinus tendons
4. Osgood-schlatters or Sinding Larsen-Johanssen syndromes
5. Knee joint effusion or hip/lumbar referred pain
6. History of patellar dislocation
7. Other structural damage to the knee

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incident case of AKP occuring during the 14-week period of phase 1 training

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Occupation outcome of training for each participant defined as: <br>1. Successful completion of training<br>2. Medical discharge (MD)<br>3. Discharge as of right (DAOR: a voluntary discharge at the request of the recruit)<br>4. Unfit for Army Service (UFAS: recruits incapable of meeting the training standards)<br>5. Back squadding (recruits held back in training)<br>6. Other (withdrawal from training for all other reasons)<br><br>All assessed throughout the entire 14-week trial period.