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Effectiveness of Gait Retraining in Female Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

NCT07176819 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 44

Last updated 2025-09-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the most common running-related overuse injury, with prevalence up to 17% among runners. Increased patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) is a major biomechanical contributor to PFP. Traditional strengthening exercises improve function but do not alter running biomechanics. Gait retraining, particularly cadence modification, has been proposed as a promising approach to reduce PFJS and alleviate symptoms. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study investigates whether wearable device-assisted gait retraining reduces pain, improves function, and modifies running biomechanics in female runners with PFP compared to education alone.

Conditions

  • Patellofemoral Pain, PFP

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Gait retraining

The intervention is a wearable device-assisted gait retraining program designed specifically for female runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Unlike conventional physiotherapy or exercise-based interventions, this program integrates real-time biofeedback through a commercially available smartwatch and its mobile application. Participants are instructed to increase their step rate by 10% above their preferred cadence. The smartwatch provides auditory metronome cues and real-time cadence feedback to ensure accurate step-rate modification.

BEHAVIORAL

Education

PFP education, load management strategies, symptom-based training modifications, and strengthening exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Beijing Sport University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Hao-Nan Wang · Beijing Sport University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
45 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-02-21
Primary Completion
2023-12-23
Completion
2023-12-23

Countries

  • China

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 NCT07176819 on ClinicalTrials.gov