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The Role of Arthrogenic Muscular Inhibition in Patellofemoral Pain and the Response to an Exercise Programme

NCT02786784 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2016-09-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the most diagnosed condition in individuals with knee complaints. Studies revealed that one third of individuals with PFP suffer from persistent complaints, indicating that current treatments fail to prevent the chronicity of symptoms. Considering that current treatment-strategies of patients with PFP seem to be unable to avoid the development of chronic symptoms, the question arises if the underlying factors of PFP are understood sufficiently. Current research focuses predominantly on muscle strength assessment by means of a maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), even though, weakness might not only be caused by a reduced voluntary contraction but also by an involuntary ability to contract the muscle fully, which is named arthrogenous muscular inhibition (AMI). Although AMI has been proven to be present in a wide range of knee joint pathologies to date it remains unclear whether patients with PFP are weak or inhibited. It remains also unclear if there exists a causal link between AMI and biomechanical alterations.

Previous studies investigated the influence of exercise treatment on muscular strength, function and pain. However, to date no study investigated the influence of the currently recommended exercise treatment on AMI. Thus, the analysis of the effect of a 6 week exercise treatment might yield further insights if a specific exercise treatment can reduce AMI, improve functional performance and reduce pain.

Methods: The investigators will invite 40 participants with PFP and 40 healthy controls to take part in the study. As a basis investigation kinematic, kinetic measures, and surface electromyographic (sEMG) of 4 lower limb muscles will be taken during functional tasks. Muscle strength and AMI of the quadriceps, muscle flexibility, and a posture assessment of the patella as well as the foot will be carried out. All participants with PFP will then receive a 6 week exercise programme to follow. After six weeks, the participants with PFP will attend the Salford university, where they will be reassessed.

Expected outcomes: The study will investigate if AMI is present in participants with PFP and if AMI is directly linked to functional performance. In addition this study will investigate if a specific exercise treatment can reduce AMI and improve functional performance.

Conditions

  • PFP
  • Patellofemoral Pain
  • Anterior Knee Pain

Interventions

OTHER

6 week exercise treatment

This six-week exercise programme was developed based on the current recommendations, consisting of four exercises to strengthen gluteus medius and maximus muscle, as well as the quadriceps muscle. In addition, two exercises to stretch the hamstrings muscles and to increase the ankle dorsi range of motion were included.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Salford

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
45 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-06-30
Primary Completion
2017-09-30
Completion
2017-10-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02786784 on ClinicalTrials.gov