High-Intensity Laser Acupuncture for Treating Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

NCT07655258 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PT.BU.EC.42
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is among the most prevalent forms of knee discomfort. The main complaint is typically anterior knee pain, which gets worse while jumping, bending knee, going up or down stairs, or sitting for long periods of time with bent knee. Teens and early adulthood are commonly affected by patellofemoral pain syndrome, with a higher frequency in females. In healthy general populations, the prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome is 22.7%, and in teens, it is 28.9%.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Patellofemoral pain syndrome; high-intensity laser acupuncture; Function; patient satisfaction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity

  The visual analogue scale represents the pain range that a patient thinks they might experience. The line is typically 10 centimetres long, with or without markings at each centimetre serves as a representation of the range. The worst pain the patient could possibly envision is represented by one end, while; no pain; is represented by the other. The patient marks the scale by drawing a line on it to indicate the amount of discomfort they are experiencing from 0-10. Higher scores represent worse pain.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Function of knee joint

  4 weeks

• patient Satisfaction

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

high-intensity laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program.

EXPERIMENTAL

The patients will receive high-intensity laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program.three times a week for four weeks.

Device: high-intensity laser acupuncture and Exercise therapy program

sham laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program.

SHAM COMPARATOR

The patients will receive sham acupuncture laser and exercise therapy program three times a week for four weeks.

Other: Sham laser acupuncture

Interventions

high-intensity laser acupuncture and Exercise therapy program DEVICE

The experimental group will receive high-intensity lasers and the treatment will be applied at over six points (ST34, ST 35, GB34, EX-LE4, SP9, and SP10) Exercise therapy program consisted of stretching for hamstring, gastrocnemius and iliotibial band, and strengthening exercises, which include isometric quadriceps exercises, straight leg raising, lateral straight leg raise, isometric hip adduction and squat to 30° knee flexion, 3 times /week for 4 weeks

Also known as: high-power laser acupuncture

high-intensity laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program.

Sham laser acupuncture OTHER

Sham laser acupuncture and exercise therapy Program. Exercise therapy program consisted of stretching for hamstring, gastrocnemius and iliotibial band, and strengthening exercises, which include isometric quadriceps exercises, straight leg raising, lateral straight leg raise, isometric hip adduction and squat to 30° knee flexion, 3 times /week for 4 weeks

sham laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (positive Clarkes sign and Waldron test)
• Age from 18 to 25 years
• Patients suffering from pain which aggravated by prolonged sitting, stair climbing, running, squatting, kneeling, hopping\\jumping, overuse activities and relieved by rest for at least 3 months
• Visual analog scale (VAS) greater than 3 points in daily activity
• The ability to participate in the study and follow the treatment schedule.

You may not qualify if:

• Physiotherapy in the last 12 months
• Intra-articular injection in the last 3 months
• Other knee disorders such as: (osteoarthritis, previous knee surgery, history of knee arthroplasty, or traumatic injury related joint deformity)
• BMI greater than or equal 30
• Pregnancy
• Pacemaker insertion
• Photosensitivity
• History of using oral analgesic or NSAIDs in the previous 4 weeks,
• History of malignancy, psychiatric disorder, mental retardation, neurologic dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, or uncontrolled hypertension.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Patient Satisfaction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Behavior; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Doaa A Elimy, lecturer

CONTACT

00201066474654; do3aayoub25@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: random generator
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer of physical therapy for basic science department., faculty of physical Therapy

Model Details: high-intensity laser acupuncture and exercise therapy program

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2026
• First Posted: June 17, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): June 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06