Patellofemoral Pain, PFP
Conditions
Keywords
Patellofemoral pain, gait retraining
Brief summary
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the most common running-related overuse injury, with prevalence up to 17% among runners. Increased patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) is a major biomechanical contributor to PFP. Traditional strengthening exercises improve function but do not alter running biomechanics. Gait retraining, particularly cadence modification, has been proposed as a promising approach to reduce PFJS and alleviate symptoms. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study investigates whether wearable device-assisted gait retraining reduces pain, improves function, and modifies running biomechanics in female runners with PFP compared to education alone.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGait retraining
The intervention is a wearable device-assisted gait retraining program designed specifically for female runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Unlike conventional physiotherapy or exercise-based interventions, this program integrates real-time biofeedback through a commercially available smartwatch and its mobile application. Participants are instructed to increase their step rate by 10% above their preferred cadence. The smartwatch provides auditory metronome cues and real-time cadence feedback to ensure accurate step-rate modification.
BEHAVIORALEducation
PFP education, load management strategies, symptom-based training modifications, and strengthening exercises.
Sponsors
Beijing Sport University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Female, Age 18-45 years * Unilateral/bilateral anterior knee pain \> 4 weeks * VAS pain ≥ 3/10 during running and ≥ 2 of the following: jumping, squatting, kneeling, stairs, prolonged sitting, or resisted knee extension * Running ≥ 15 km per week * Natural rearfoot striker
Exclusion criteria
* Acute trauma, history of patellar dislocation, meniscal/chondral lesions * Prior knee surgery or injection in past 12 months * Rheumatologic, neurologic, or degenerative disease * Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Analogue Scale for Pain | Baseline, Week 6, Week 18 | The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a validated, widely used instrument for assessing subjective pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimeter horizontal line, with one end (0) representing no pain and the other end (10) representing worst imaginable pain. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior Knee Pain Scale | Baseline, Week 6, Week 18 | The Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS), also referred to as the Kujala Score, is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to evaluate symptoms and functional limitations associated with anterior knee pain and patellofemoral disorders. It consists of 13 items covering domains such as pain during various activities (e.g., walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs, squatting), functional limitations, abnormal gait, muscle atrophy, and difficulty with prolonged sitting. Each item is scored on an ordinal scale, and the total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better knee function and fewer symptoms. |
| Peak Knee Flexion Angle During Running | Baseline, Week 6 | Peak knee flexion angle will be assessed during running trials using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. Reflective markers will be placed according to a standard lower-limb biomechanical model. The angle is defined as the maximum knee flexion angle observed during stance phase of running. |
| Ground Reaction Force During Running | Baseline, Week 6 | Ground reaction force (GRF) will be measured during overground running using embedded force plates synchronized with motion capture. The variable of interest is the peak force normalized to body weight. |
| Running Cadence | Baseline, Week 6 | Running cadence will be assessed as the number of steps taken per minute during running. Measurement will be conducted using a wearable device running sessions |
| Weekly running distance | Baseline, Week 6 | Weekly running distance will be recorded as the total distance covered in running sessions over a 7-day period. Data will be collected from participants' GPS-based tracking devices. |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed