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

An exercise protocol for the prevention of acute anterior knee pain (AKP) in military recruits undergoing phase 1 training: a single-blind cluster randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN61493628

Enrollment

2762

Registered

2010-04-26

Start date

2006-08-30

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

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

Interventions

Injury prevention intervention: The intervention group will undertake the existing common military training syllabus and the AKP preventative exercise protocol. This protocol will centre on the follo

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

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

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Incident case of AKP occuring during the 14-week period of phase 1 training	—

Secondary

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

Measure

Time frame

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

—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026