EFFECT OF SAPHENOUS NERVE RELEASE ON PATIENTS WITH PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME

NCT07318987 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/006114
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain in young, physically active individuals, especially females, and is commonly managed with quadriceps and hip-focused exercises. However, the role of neural factors has been largely overlooked. The saphenous nerve, which supplies sensation to the anteromedial knee, may become irritated or entrapped and contribute to pain and neuromuscular dysfunction in PFPS. This study suggests that manual therapy targeting the saphenous nerve could improve pain, function, and balance, providing a more holistic approach to PFPS rehabilitation.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Keywords

PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME; Balance; pain; knee function; saphenous nerve

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• knee pain

  Visual analogue scale to measure pain intensity

  up to 6 weeks

• Balance

  Using the Biodex Stability System (Biodex balance system), static balance was measured

  up to 6 weeks

• Function

  Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) for knee pain and function, The Kujala score is composed of 13 multiple choice questions: the presence of a limp, the need for support, the ability to walk, the ability to climb stairs, the ability to squat, the ability to run, the ability to jump, prolonged sitting with knees in the flexed position, the presence of knee pain, the presence of knee swelling, the presence of abnormal painful patellar movement, atrophy of the thigh muscles, and deficiency of knee flexion.

  up to 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Q angle

  up to 6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

SAPHENOUS NERVE RELEASE

EXPERIMENTAL

The patient is in a supine position with the leg extended. Look for a sensitive area four to five fingerbreadths above the knee on the medial side. This will be a long strip of fascia that is several inches in length. The fingers are then placed on either side of this strip on the medial side of the leg behind the sartorius muscle. The fingers are pulled apart in distal and proximal directions, as if to separate the strip as far as possible

Other: Saphenous nerve release

traditional treatment

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The intervention program lasted six weeks and was performed three times per week. It included strengthening, manual therapy, and stretching exercises. Strengthening focused on both the hip and knee. Hip exercises consisted of side-lying hip abduction, clamshells, and prone hip extension, while knee exercises included straight leg raises, terminal knee extensions, and wall-supported mini-squats. Exercises progressed from 3 sets of 10 to 3 sets of 20 repetitions, with gradual resistance added, dynamic execution, brief pauses between repetitions, and short rest periods between sets. Manual therapy involved patellofemoral joint mobilization performed in a supine position with the knee slightly flexed, using superior, inferior, medial, and lateral patellar glides. Stretching exercises were performed in sitting or standing, targeting the posterior structures with the knee extended and ankle dorsiflexed. Static stretches were held for 15 seconds and repeated for three sets.

Other: Saphenous nerve release

Interventions

Saphenous nerve release OTHER

With the patient lying supine and the leg extended, a tender area is identified on the medial side of the thigh, approximately four to five fingerbreadths above the knee. This area corresponds to a longitudinal fascial strip located behind the sartorius muscle. The therapist places the fingers on either side of this strip and applies a gentle separating force in proximal and distal directions to mobilize the tissue and reduce sensitivity.

SAPHENOUS NERVE RELEASE; traditional treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age from 18 to 35 and BMI 18 to 25 kg/m2. 2. Both gender (male and female) 3. Patients who had anterior knee pain for at least six weeks 4. Patients with positive saphenous neurodynamic test (SAPHNT)

You may not qualify if:

• Knee replacement
• An intraarticular injection within the past 3 months
• Previous operative treatment or arthroscopy, other secondary knee-related problems (bursitis, tendinopathy, osteochondritis, neuromas, intraarticular pathology (such as osteoarthritis), tumor, and rheumatologic diseases
• Diabetic neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

Cairo, Egypt

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Markos Boshra, bachelor's

CONTACT

01201365245; markosboshra3@gmail.com

Markos Boshra, bachelor's

CONTACT

01550799147; markosboshra3@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Teaching assistant

Model Details: Saphenous nerve release

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 21, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: October 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 10, 2026
• Study Completion: January 27, 2026
• Last Updated: January 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

EG (1)