Completed

PFP-FPThe Patellofemoral Pain Functional Performance and Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition Study

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What is being tested

PowersTM strap

Other
Who is being recruted

Joint Diseases

+ Musculoskeletal Diseases

+ Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

From 18 to 45 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: June 2016
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of Salford
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: June 1, 2016

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in patients with knee complaints. Studies investigating the therapeutic effect on PFP revealed that the majority of patients with PFP were still suffering of knee pain after 5 to 8 years, despite initially received treatment and education, indicating that the current treatments fail to prevent the chronicity of symptoms. Considering that current treatment-strategies of patients with PFP seem to be unable to avoid the development of chronic symptoms, the question arises if the underlying factors of PFP are understood sufficiently. In contrary to the current broad body of literature on weakness, potentially underlying factors which might influence or even lead to PFP, such arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) or the break phenomenon remain understudied. Pain in PFP has been proven to be linked to quadriceps strength deficit, gluteal strength deficits, knee stability, irregularities in the quadriceps torque curve, and functional performance. Bazett et al. (2011) described that pain "is more than a symptom and might play a role in the etiology or progression of PFP". Furthermore, pain seems to play a crucial role in AMI. However, the correlation between pain and AMI in patients with PFP has not been investigated currently. No assessment in isolation can provide a full picture of the problem. The combination of AMI, the break phenomenon with a biomechanical analysis might enable the determination of the impact of inhibition and strength on biomechanical changes. In addition, it might provide an answer to whether AMI or weakness cause biomechanical alterations, which would help to optimise treatment approaches in PFP. The PowersTM strap strap was developed with the aim of assisting lower limb kinematics, decreasing knee varus through supporting femoral abduction and external rotation. This treatment may potentially also directly improve functional performance. As the functional performance in participants with PFP after the application of the PowersTM strap has not been investigated, this study aims to analyse if there is a direct link between the application of the PowersTM strap to functional performance and pain.

Official TitleThe Patellofemoral Pain Functional Performance and Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition Study
NCT02914574
Principal SponsorUniversity of Salford
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

21 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 45 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Joint DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesPatellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria for patients with PFP: 1. Reproducible pain with at least two of these activities: ascending or descending stairs or ramps, squatting, kneeling, prolonged sitting, hopping/ jumping, isometric quadriceps contraction or running 2. Clearly defined pain location in the peripatellar region 3. Reports of pain greater than 1 month duration. 4. They are able to perform squatting, running and MVC task- Participant response 5. Age range: 18-45 years old Inclusion criteria for healthy volunteers: 1. Healthy and without any previous lower limb injuries 2. The participant is able to perform squatting, running and MVC task Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous history of knee surgery 2. Previous history of (traumatic) patella dislocation or instability 3. Previous history of ligamentous instabilities 4. Previous history of traumatic, inflammatory or infectious pathology in the lower extremity 5. Previous history of internal derangement or other causes 6. Previous diagnosed degenerative conditions in the knee 7. Exclusion if patients cannot perform running, step down, or MVC task. 8. Exclusion criteria for the healthy control group are: clinical evidence of other knee injury or knee pain, and current significant injury affecting other lower extremity joints.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

One single intervention group is designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Healthy control group will attend one visit and functional performance, muscle strength and flexibility, quadriceps AMI, patellar position and posture will be measured. No intervention will be applied.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

University of Salford

Salford, United KingdomOpen University of Salford in Google Maps
CompletedOne Study Center