A Study on the Effectiveness of Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Training in Patients With Patellofemoral Joint Pain.

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Patellofemoral Pain, PFP

• Registration Number: NCT06958757
• Lead Sponsor: Tianjin University of Sport

Brief Summary

Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is a common knee condition causing pain around the kneecap during activities like running or squatting. Limited ankle flexibility ("dorsiflexion" - how far participants can lift their toes toward the shin) may worsen PFP by altering leg movements. This study investigates whether adding ankle flexibility exercises to standard knee-strengthening programs improves outcomes for young adults with PFP. Active adults aged 18-30 with PFP and limited ankle flexibility (measured with a simple tool) are eligible, excluding those with prior knee/ankle surgeries, fractures, or conditions like arthritis. Sixty-four participants will be randomly assigned to either an Exercise + Ankle Training group (standard knee exercises plus targeted ankle training) or an Exercise-Only group for 8 weeks under physiotherapist guidance. Outcomes include improvements in knee pain scores (Kujala Scale), ankle flexibility changes, and muscle coordination measured with non-invasive sensors. If effective, ankle flexibility training could provide a low-cost addition to current treatments, helping patients resume activities with less pain. The study follows international ethical guidelines and has received preliminary ethics approval (No. TJUS-2025-054).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-04-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-25
• Study Start: 2025-05-06
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-06
• Primary Completion: 2025-09-10
• Study Completion: 2025-09-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 64

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18-30 years
• Diagnosed with patellofemoral pain (PFP) per clinical guidelines (anterior knee pain aggravated by ≥2 activities: running, squatting, stair climbing)
• Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) <10° (measured via goniometer in weight-bearing)
• BMI 18.5-28 kg/m²
• Engage in regular physical activity (≥3 sessions/week)

Exclusion Criteria

• Ankle fractures
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout, or systemic diseases
• Prior knee/ankle surgeries
• Concurrent lower limb injuries (e.g., ligament tears, meniscal pathology)
• Neurological disorders affecting mobility
• Participation in other lower limb rehabilitation programs within 3 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale	Assess all outcome measures at baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the completion of the 8-week intervention program (post-intervention).
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion	Assess all outcome measures at baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the completion of the 8-week intervention program (post-intervention).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
sEMG co-contraction ratios	All outcome measures (sEMG co-contraction) ratios are assessed at baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completing the 8-week intervention program (post-intervention).