Patellofemoral Pain (PFPS) Clinical Trial
Official title:
A Randomised Controlled Trial on Recreational Runners With Patellofemoral Pain: Effects of Rehabilitation Approaches Based on Specific Underlying Mechanisms
From a rehabilitation point of view, while several approaches exist to retrain runners with
PFPS, it is not clear which one is most effective, or why. The goals of this
randomised-controlled trial are: 1) to compare the effectiveness of three rehabilitation
programs on pain and functional limitations of runners with PFPS and 2) to explain why the
programs are effective or not based on laboratory analyses. After baseline evaluation,
runners will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each with a specific
8-week rehabilitation program aimed at addressing the efficiency of a specific type of
retraining. These groups are: 1) Control; 2) muscle recruitment; 3) reducing knee loading
during running.
The investigators hypothesis is that the intervention targeting a reduction in knee loading
will be significantly more effective in reducing symptoms and improving function of runners
with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Hypothesis will be tested using symptoms and functional status questionnaires. In addition, mechanistic analyses will be conducted using a running assessment using an instrumented treadmill and kinematics analyses. ;
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment