Popliteus Muscle Release Versus Patellofemoral Mobilization in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

NCT07698704 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/006557
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted to compare the effect of popliteus muscle release and patellofemoral mobilization on pain intensity, function, and quadriceps muscle strength in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome?

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Popliteus Muscle Release; Patellofemoral Mobilization; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• pain intensity

  The scale used will be the visual analogue scale (VAS), which consists of a line, usually 10 cm long, the patient will be instructed to place a vertical mark on to indicate his/ her pain, ranging from no pain or discomfort (0), to the worst pain that could possibly feel

  up to four weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• knee disability

  up to four weeks

• quadriceps muscle strength

  up to four weeks

Study Arms (3)

Popliteus Muscle Release

EXPERIMENTAL

Sixteen patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive popliteus muscle release. plus traditional physical therapy three times a week for 4 weeks.

Other: Popliteus Muscle Release; Other: traditional therapy

Patellofemoral Mobilization

EXPERIMENTAL

Sixteen patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive patellofemoral mobilization plus traditional physical therapy three times a week for 4 weeks.

Other: Patellofemoral Mobilization; Other: traditional therapy

traditional therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Sixteen patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will receive traditional physical therapy three times a week for 4 weeks.

Other: traditional therapy

Interventions

Popliteus Muscle Release OTHER

the participant will lie supine and relaxed on a treatment bench. The therapist will begin the treatment by flexing the participant's knee to approximately 15-25 degrees. Then, the therapist will apply pressure to the popliteus muscle while simultaneously extending the knee to approximately 5 degrees of flexion. When the knee is extended, the pressure will be released. The therapist will repeat this procedure for up to 2 minutes plus tradional therapy

Popliteus Muscle Release

Patellofemoral Mobilization OTHER

Following the clinical guidelines established by Brukner and Khan, the mobilization will be performed with the patient in a supine position to ensure complete relaxation of the quadriceps musculature, thereby minimizing joint compressive forces. The intervention will include multidirectional glides tailored to specific functional deficits:Superior glides,Inferior glides,Medial-lateral excursions and tilt mobilization.Each mobilization will be applied as a gentle sustained glide for duration of 30 to 60 seconds per repetition

Patellofemoral Mobilization

traditional therapy OTHER

patients will receive quadriceps muscle strength, hip extension strength, hamstring stretch.

Patellofemoral Mobilization; Popliteus Muscle Release; traditional therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male and female participants aged 18-30 years.
• minimum history of 3 months of unilateral PFP.
• pain intensity score of ≥3 on a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for worst pain experienced during the previous week.
• Pain reproduced during at least two of the following functional activities: stair ascent or descent, running, hopping, prolonged sitting, squatting, or kneeling.
• Presence of pain on at least one of the following clinical tests: patellar compression test or palpation of the patellar facets.

You may not qualify if:

• Clinical, x-ray, or MRI findings indicative of other specific pathology including osteoarthritis, meniscal, ligament or cartilage injury, apophysitis.
• Recurrent patellar subluxation or dislocation.
• Cortisone use over an extended period of time.
• Previous surgery to the knee joint; trauma to the knee joint affecting the presenting clinical condition.
• Lower limb deformities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Central Study Contacts

mohamed Bahig, master

CONTACT

0 11 41644884; mohamed.bahig@the.suezuni.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: opaque sealed envelope
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: principle investigator : mohamed abdelalim bahig

Model Details: Popliteus Muscle Release and Patellofemoral Mobilization

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2026
• First Posted: July 13, 2026
• Study Start: July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07