Aquatic Plyometrics for Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

NCT07679464 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RHPT/0023/0019
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study was designed to assess the effect of a 12-week hydro-kinetic plyometric (HK-Plyo) training on pain, muscle strength, disability, and quality of life (QoL) in adolescents with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Fifty-six adolescents with PFPS were randomly allocated to the HK-Plyo group (n = 28, received the plyometric-based hydro-kinetic therapy program, twice/week, over 12 weeks) or the control group (n = 28, received standard exercise program). Both groups were assessed for pain, muscle strength, disability, and QoL pre and post-treatment.

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Intensity

  Assessed during both rest and physical movement using the 11-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain imaginable".

  1 month

• Muscle Strength

  Measured as peak concentric torque (in Newton-meters \[Nm\]) of the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups using an isokinetic dynamometer at an angular velocity of 120°/sec and 180°/sec.

  1 month

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Functional Disability

  1 month

• Quality of life (QoL)

  1 Month

Study Arms (2)

HK-Plyo group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group underwent a structured HK-Plyo program.

Other: Hydro-Kinetic Plyometric Exercise Program

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group received the standard exercise program.

Other: Standard Exercise Program (Conventional Physical Therapy)

Interventions

Hydro-Kinetic Plyometric Exercise Program OTHER

Participants underwent a structured HK-Plyo program conducted in a water medium (pool). The intervention consisted of 24 total sessions, delivered twice a week for 12 consecutive weeks. Each 45-minute session included a 10-minute aquatic warm-up, a 30-minute core plyometric phase, and a 5-minute cool-down. The core phase consisted of 10 unilateral and bilateral lower-limb plyometric exercises, including variations of hopping, bounding, and jumping. Exercise prescription, progression, and safety parameters strictly adhered to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) guidelines and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safety standards.

HK-Plyo group

Standard Exercise Program (Conventional Physical Therapy) OTHER

Participants underwent a standard, land-based exercise program. The intervention consisted of 24 total sessions, delivered twice a week for 12 consecutive weeks, with each session lasting 45 minutes. The program was multimodal and consisted of lower-limb flexibility exercises, progressive lower-extremity strength training, weight-bearing exercises, proprioceptive training, and balance exercises.

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age of 10-18 years
• Verified diagnosis of PFPS based on the ICD classification system (ICD-10 code for PFPS: M22.2X9)
• Pain more than 3 on (0-10 pain scale).
• Persistent pain more than 3 months
• Pain get worse with activities and get better with rest.

You may not qualify if:

• History of knee surgery
• Recent trauma
• Corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory medications in the past 6 months
• Patellar subluxation or dislocation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead
• Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ragab K. Elnaggar

Al Kharj, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: This was a single-blind protocol. The researcher who collected the data was blind to the allocation of treatment
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: A prospective, dual-arm, randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2026
• First Posted: July 1, 2026
• Study Start: June 4, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2024
• Study Completion: May 30, 2024
• Last Updated: July 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SA (1)