Effect of Short Foot Exercise Combined With Focused Hip and Knee Exercises on Pain, Q Angle and Functional Outcomes in Female Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Short foot exercise + Hip and Knee Strengthening exercise, Hip and Knee Strengthening Exercises.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Basic parameters: 18 years — 45 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of short foot exercises combined with focused hip and knee strengthening on pain, Q-angle, and functional outcomes in female patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Thirty-eight participants aged 18-45 years will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group (short foot + hip and knee exercises) or a control group (hip and knee exercises only) for a 6-week supervised rehabilitation program.
Detailed description
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by anterior knee pain, particularly prevalent among females due to anatomical and biomechanical factors. Although conventional rehabilitation focuses on hip and quadriceps strengthening, persistent symptoms suggest the involvement of distal biomechanical contributors such as foot pronation and intrinsic foot muscle weakness.
Short Foot Exercise (SFE) targets intrinsic foot musculature, improves medial longitudinal arch stability, and enhances neuromuscular control. This study investigates whether combining SFE with hip and knee strengthening provides superior outcomes compared to conventional rehabilitation alone.
This study is a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial including 38 female participants aged 18-45 years diagnosed with PFPS. Participants will be randomly allocated into experimental and control groups using a computer-generated sequence with allocation concealment. The intervention will be conducted over 6 weeks, with three supervised sessions per week.
The experimental group will receive short foot exercises along with hip and knee strengthening, while the control group will receive hip and knee strengthening only. Outcome measures including pain (VAS), functional status (Kujala AKPS), and Q-angle will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
The study aims to determine whether a combined proximal-distal rehabilitation approach leads to better improvements in pain, alignment, and functional outcomes.
Interventions
- Other Short foot exercise + Hip and Knee Strengthening exercise
Short Foot Exercises (SFE) Structured intrinsic foot muscle training involving medial longitudinal arch elevation without toe flexion, progressing from seated to standing and functional positions. Hip and Knee Strengthening Exercises Progressive strengthening program targeting hip abductors, external rotators, and quadriceps muscles through functional and resistance-based exercises. - Other Hip and Knee Strengthening Exercises
Hip and Knee Strengthening Exercises alone Progressive strengthening program focusing on hip abductors, external rotators, and quadriceps muscles, including both non-weight-bearing and functional weight-bearing exercises.
Primary outcome measures
- Kujala Anterior knee pain scale (AKPS) [Time frame: Baseline measurement and after 6 weeks intervention]
- Visual Analogue Scale [Time frame: Baseline measurement and after 6 weeks intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Q angle [Time frame: Baseline measurement and after 6 weeks intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Diagnosed cases of patellofemoral pain syndrome confirmed by this protocol.
- Females aged 18-45 years
- Anterior or retro patellar knee pain lasting ≥ 6 weeks
- Pain provoked by at least one PFJ-loading task, including:
- squatting,
- stair climbing/descending,
- running,
- prolonged sitting with knees flexed
- Pain elicited by at least two of four clinical tests;
- Pain during isometric quadriceps contraction at 20-30° knee flexion
- Pain on palpation of the patellofemoral joint line
- Pain during patellar compression
- Pain during active resisted knee extension
Exclusion criteria
History of patellar instability, including subluxation or dislocation 2. Evidence of tibiofemoral pathology, such as: Ligamentous injuries, meniscal tears, and symptomatic knee effusion.
3\. Previous knee surgery within the last 12 months 4. Radiographic or clinical knee osteoarthritis. 5. Neurological disorders or systemic inflammatory diseases that may influence gait or pain perception.
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Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- NUR FMH System — Lahore
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07703072 · UBAS/ERB/26/04/032