Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Conditions
Interventions
rTMS + Muscle Strength Training Group:Active rTMS combined with muscle strength training
rTMSsham + Muscle Strength Training Group:Sham rTMS combined with muscle strength training
rTMS Group:Active repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alone
rTMSsham Group:Sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alone
Sponsors
Chengdu Sport University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 18–30 years, currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Chengdu Sport University, with no history of systemic joint diseases. 2. Unilateral or bilateral anterior/peripatellar pain that can be provoked by at least two functional activities, such as stair climbing/descending, squatting, rising from prolonged sitting, daily fast walking, or jogging; no sharp pain induced by twisting or trauma. 3. Pain intensity >= 3 points in the patellar grind test. 4. Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patellofemoral Pain (VISA-P) score = 3 months, with the most recent knee pain episode consistent with increased patellofemoral joint loading, and aggravated pain load lasting >= 1 month. 6. Sufficient fNIRS signal quality (wearable probe fitting well, no severe motion artifacts). 7. Able to understand and cooperate with subsequent interventions and assessments, and voluntarily signed the informed consent form.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Meniscus injury, anterior/posterior cruciate ligament tear, synovitis, patellar dislocation/subluxation, knee osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, patellar tendinitis, or other organic knee diseases confirmed by physical examination. 2. History of major diseases, such as tumors, severe cardiopulmonary diseases, metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetic peripheral neuropathy), etc. 3. History of neurological or psychiatric disorders, or sensory disturbances affecting lower extremity motor function. 4. Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months, such as lower extremity sprain or fracture. 5. Received professional treatment for knee pain within the past 3 months, including knee injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, etc. 6. Contraindications to rTMS intervention (e.g., history of epilepsy, intracranial metal implants, pregnancy/lactation, etc.). 7. Inability to accurately provide information on caffeine and nicotine use, or refusal to comply with basic pre-experimental requirements (To control potential interference of caffeine and nicotine on fNIRS signals, participants were required to abstain from caffeine-containing products for at least 6 hours and from smoking for at least 2 hours before testing.) 8. Secondary patellofemoral pain (anterior knee pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or post-traumatic knee pain).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Oxyhemoglobin concentration;Y-Balance Test;Root - Mean - Square;Co-Contraction Index;EMG-OT; | — |
Countries
China
Contacts
Public Contacttianyu liang
Chengdu Sport University
Outcome results
None listed