Knee Extensor Muscle Properties in Young Women Symptomatic and Asymptomatic for Anterior Knee Pain

NCT02734030 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UFRGS - 1.032.452
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to compare the knee extensors' mechanical, morphological and myoelectric properties between subjects affected by anterior knee pain and a healthy control group. The investigators hypothesis is that patients with anterior knee pain present a reduction in the knee extensors' mechanical, morphological and myoelectric properties due to chronic muscle inhibition produced by the syndrome. In addition, the study also aims to evaluate whether there are differences in methodology for application of the Interpolated Twitch Technique for evaluation of the quadriceps muscle inhibition by comparing the use of supramaximal electrical stimulation on the femoral nerve (gold standard) with stimulation on the motor point (new methodology) in healthy subjects and individuals affected by anterior knee pain. The investigators hypothesis is that the stimulation on the motor point is less discomfortable than on the femoral nerve and muscle inhibition results are less variable (with lower dispersion) due to such lower discomfort

Conditions

Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome; Quadriceps Femoris; Muscle Inhibition; Interpolated Twitch Technique; Muscle Architecture; Single Leg Squat; Women Knee Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Torque

  Torque is an expression of the muscular strength and was assessed by dynamometry.

  Torque was measured during a single visit to the laboratory during the study.The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

• Muscular architecture

  Muscular architecture (muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length) was assessed by ultrasonography

  Muscle architecture was measured one time during the study. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

• Muscle inhibition

  Quadriceps muscle inhibition was assessed using the Interpolated Twitch Technique comparing the use of supramaximal electrical stimulation on the femoral nerve (gold standard) with stimulation on the motor point (new methodology).

  Muscle inhibition was measured during a single visit to the laboratory during the study. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

• Muscular electrical activation

  Electrical activation was assessed by surface electromyography (EMG)

  Muscular electrical activation was measured during a single visit to the laboratory during the study. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

• Patellofemoral cartilage thickness

  Patellofemoral cartilage thickness were assessed by ultrasonography

  Patellofemoral cartilage thickness was measured one time during the study. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

• Single Leg Squat

  Single leg squat was measured with a video camera and allowed to determine lower limb functionality

  Single leg squat performance was measured one time during the study. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Knee pain

  Knee pain during the tests was measured after all knee extensor contractions. The evaluation was performed up to 5 months.

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

Knee pain-free females with no history of lower limb injuries serving as a control group. .

Anterior Knee Pain Group

Females with anterior knee pain syndrome were enrolled in this group.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Young women symptomatic and assymptomatic for anterior knee pain syndrome

You may qualify if:

• Anterior Knee pain group:
• Retropatellar or peripatellar knee pain in at least 2 of the following functional activities: stair ascent or descent, running, kneeling, squatting, prolonged sitting, jumping;
• Score smaller than 85 points on the Kujala Questionnaire;
• Physically active according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - short version)
• Body mass index less than 30
• Control group:
• Knee pain-free females with no history of lower limb injuries

You may not qualify if:

• Body mass index higher than 30
• Sedentary subjects
• Cardiovascular, neurological or cognitive disorders
• Any cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, or metabolic disease that could represent an absolute contraindication or a contraindication to the performance of maximum strength tests
• Previous surgery on lower limb
• Participation in a strength-training programme or physiotherapy treatment for knee injuries in the past six months
• Otherwise associated injury in the lower limb joints other than anterior knee pain syndrome
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul: lead

Study Sites (1)

Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90690-200, Brazil

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Marco Vaz, PhD

  Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2016
• First Posted: April 12, 2016
• Study Start: April 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2016
• Study Completion: October 1, 2016
• Last Updated: October 26, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)