Core and Hip-Knee Exercises in PFPS

NCT07531550 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: P.T. REC/012/006181
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of adding core muscle strengthening exercises to a hip- and knee-focused exercise program on pain intensity, dynamic knee valgus (DKV), and functional outcomes in female patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Research Question: Does adding core muscle strengthening exercises to a hip- and knee-focused exercise program have an effect on pain intensity, dynamic knee valgus (DKV), and functional outcomes in female patients with PFPS?

Conditions

Pain; DKV

Keywords

Dynamic knee valgus (DKV)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Pain Intensity During Motion

  Pain intensity during movement will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS is a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at 6 weeks (post-intervention)

• Knee Function

  Knee function will be assessed using the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS). The KOS score ranges from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better knee function.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at 6 weeks (post-intervention)

• Pain Intensity at Rest

  Pain intensity at rest will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS is a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at 6 weeks (post-intervention)

• Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV)

  Dynamic knee valgus will be assessed by measuring the knee valgus angle in degrees during functional tasks. Higher values indicate greater valgus deviation and poorer knee alignment.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at 6 weeks (post-intervention)

Study Arms (2)

control group hip and knee focused exercises program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Open kinetic chain exercises including side-lying hip abduction, hip external rotation (clamshell), prone hip extension, short arc quadriceps, and straight leg raises 1. Closed kinetic chain exercises including mini wall squats and terminal knee extensions 2. Flexibility exercises targeting tight lower extremity soft tissues, including a seated hamstring stretch, standing quadriceps stretch, and standing wall stretch for the gastrocnemius

Behavioral: hip and knee-focused exercise program

Study group hip and knee focused exercises program in addition to core muscle training exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

participants who will received the same exercise program as control group, in addition to core muscle training exercises, including the front plank, side plank, and dead bug exercises

Behavioral: Core Muscle Stability Exercise Program

Interventions

hip and knee-focused exercise program BEHAVIORAL

Open kinetic chain exercises including side-lying hip abduction, hip external rotation (clamshell), prone hip extension, short arc quadriceps, and straight leg raises (Khayambashi et al., 2012) ( Dolak et al., 2011). 1. Closed kinetic chain exercises including mini wall squats and terminal knee extensions (Hott et al., 2020). 2. Flexibility exercises targeting tight lower extremity soft tissues, including a seated hamstring stretch, standing quadriceps stretch, and standing wall stretch for the gastrocnemius

control group hip and knee focused exercises program

Core Muscle Stability Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

core muscle training exercises, including the front plank, side plank, and dead bug exercises

Study group hip and knee focused exercises program in addition to core muscle training exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Weeks - 35 Weeks
• Gender Eligibility Details: female participants diagnosed and referred with PFPS (retropatellar knee pain lasting more than 6 weeks
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Thirty-six female participants diagnosed and referred with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) (retropatellar knee pain lasting more than 6 weeks).
• Age range between 19-35 years.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) up to 25 kg/m².

You may not qualify if:

• History of previous surgeries of the lower limb.
• Clinical evidence of knee joint complex disorders, including meniscus lesions, 3-patellar tendinopathy, chondral lesions, or knee osteoarthritis.
• Presence of pronated foot.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy

Giza, Giza Governorate, 12613, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Interventions

Papaverine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Benzylisoquinolines; Alkaloids; Heterocyclic Compounds; Opiate Alkaloids; Isoquinolines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring

Study Officials

• Radwa M Hussien, Pt, PhD

  Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Radwa M Hussien, PT, PhD

CONTACT

+201004411584; radwabelal94@gmail.com

Dina S Abdallah, PT, PhD, Lecturer

CONTACT

+201282742057d; drdinasayed_pt@yahoo.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: Double-blinded study in which both participants and physiotherapists are unaware of group allocation due to the similarity of intervention protocols.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: principal investigator

Model Details: This study uses a parallel assignment interventional model in which participants are allocated into two groups. The intervention group receives a core muscle stability exercise program, while the control group receives conventional physiotherapy. Both groups are treated concurrently throughout the study period, and outcomes are assessed before and after the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 29, 2026
• First Posted: April 15, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 4, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 4, 2026
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

EG (1)