Body Awareness-Based Rehabilitation on Physical Psychosocial Status in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

NCT07411027 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026/23
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common knee condition that causes pain around or behind the kneecap, especially during activities such as walking, climbing stairs, squatting, or prolonged sitting. This condition can affect daily activities, movement quality, and psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a body awareness-based sensorimotor rehabilitation program on pain behavior, movement quality, and psychosocial outcomes in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving body awareness-based sensorimotor rehabilitation or a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy exercises. The rehabilitation program will focus on improving body awareness, posture, balance, and controlled movement patterns. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention period. The main outcomes include changes in pain-related behaviors, movement quality, and psychosocial status. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence on whether body awareness-based sensorimotor rehabilitation can be an effective approach for managing patellofemoral pain and improving both physical and psychological aspects of function.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Patellofemoral pain syndrome; Body awareness; Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Behavior Score

  Pain behavior refers to observable and self-reported behaviors related to pain experience, including pain intensity, pain-related avoidance, and functional responses to pain during daily activities. In this study, pain behavior will be evaluated to determine the effect of the intervention on participants' pain-related responses and functional adaptation. Pain-related behavior will be assessed using the Turkish Pain Behavior Questionnaire total score to evaluate changes in pain-related responses and avoidance behaviors.

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

• Movement Quality Assessment Scale Total Score

  Movement quality refers to the efficiency, control, and coordination of body movements during functional activities. In this study, movement quality will be assessed to evaluate changes in postural control, balance, and coordinated movement patterns as a result of the rehabilitation program. Movement quality will be assessed using a standardized movement quality assessment scale evaluating postural control, balance, and coordinated movement patterns.

  Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Study Arms (2)

Body Awareness-Based Sensorimotor Rehabilitation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive a structured body awareness-based sensorimotor rehabilitation program. The program will consist of guided exercises focusing on increasing body awareness, postural control, balance, and coordinated movement patterns. The intervention aims to enhance participants' ability to perceive, interpret, and control their body movements during functional activities. Exercises will emphasize controlled movement, alignment, breathing, and proprioceptive feedback. The rehabilitation sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and will be delivered over a defined intervention period.

Other: Sensorimotor Rehabilitation; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Exercise Program

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will receive a conventional physiotherapy exercise program focusing on general strengthening, flexibility, balance, and functional movement exercises. The program reflects standard clinical practice and does not include structured body awareness-based components. Sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and delivered with the same frequency and duration as the experimental group.

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Exercise Program

Interventions

Sensorimotor Rehabilitation OTHER

Sensorimotor rehabilitation is a physiotherapy approach that aims to improve the integration of sensory input and motor output to enhance movement control and functional performance. It focuses on optimizing how the nervous system processes sensory information (such as proprioception, balance, and tactile input) to produce efficient and coordinated movements. This approach includes exercises that target postural control, balance, joint position sense, and neuromuscular coordination. The main goal is to restore normal movement patterns, reduce compensatory strategies, and improve functional stability during daily and sports-related activities. Sensorimotor rehabilitation is commonly used in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those involving movement dysfunction, pain, and impaired motor control, such as knee pain and patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Body Awareness-Based Sensorimotor Rehabilitation

Conventional Physiotherapy Exercise Program OTHER

A structured conventional physiotherapy exercise program including strengthening, flexibility, balance, and functional movement exercises based on standard rehabilitation principles. The program is supervised by a physiotherapist and applied according to routine clinical exercise protocols.

Body Awareness-Based Sensorimotor Rehabilitation; Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18-45 years.
• Clinical diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome with anterior or retropatellar knee pain.
• Knee pain lasting for at least 3 months.
• Pain intensity of at least moderate level during functional activities such as stair climbing, squatting, or prolonged sitting.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions and provide informed consent.
• Willingness to participate in the rehabilitation program.

You may not qualify if:

• History of knee surgery within the past 12 months.
• Presence of other knee pathologies (e.g., ligament injury, meniscal tear, osteoarthritis).
• Diagnosis of inflammatory or rheumatological diseases.
• Neurological disorders affecting balance or movement.
• Current pregnancy.
• Participation in another structured physiotherapy or rehabilitation program within the past 3 months.
• Any condition that may prevent safe participation in exercise.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Guneysu Physical Therspy and Rehabilitation School

Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Central Study Contacts

SEDA KARACA, PHD

CONTACT

90 464 444 01 99; seda.karaca@erdogan.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)