Remote Step Rate and Load Based Interventions in Runners With Patellofemoral Pain

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore two remote running programs in runners with patellofemoral pain. One program asks runners to increase their step rate and reduce their training load, while the other asks runners to only reduce their training load. The study will compare these two programs with a control group who continue running as usual. It will also examine whether changes in running load and psychosocial factors are related to changes in pain and function.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Can these remote running programs reduce knee pain and improve function in runners with patellofemoral pain compared to the control group?
* Is reducing training load plus increasing step rate more effective than reducing training load alone?
* Are changes in running load, step rate, psychological and social factors related to improvements in pain and function? Researchers will compare a step rate increase plus load reduction group, a load reduction only group, and a control group to see which approach leads to the greatest improvements in pain and function.

Participants will:

* Complete online questionnaires about knee pain, knee function, and related psychosocial factors
* Share running load data from their watch using an online platform
* Follow 4 weeks of instructions based on their assigned group
* Complete follow-up surveys 1, 2 and 6 months after the 4-week intervention period.

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Pain, PFP

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Step Rate Increase + Load Reduction

Runners in this group were advised on how to increase (5%) their step rate during running. During week 1 of the intervention runners in this group were advised to use a metronome while running to match their footfalls to the beat. The metronome was set at a rate of their baseline step rate plus 5% (e.g. a pre-intervention step rate of 160 would lead to the metronome being set at 168). During week 2 runners were advised to try running with the increased step rate without the metronome and just using their running device to monitor. They were advised to use the metronome if they felt it was necessary to maintain the step rate change. During week 3 participants were advised to monitor the step rate increase with the running device. Finally, during week 4 participants were asked to only monitor step rate post run. Runners in this group also received the same advice as the load reduction only group on reducing their training load.

BEHAVIORAL

Load Reduction Group

Runners allocated to the LR group were advised to reduce their weekly running load during the 4-week intervention period. They were asked to decrease their total running volume to reduce their knee pain to 20 out of 100 (by reducing duration and distance of runs). No specific quantity of volume reduction was imposed. They were asked to avoid running that involves inclines and declines. They were asked to avoid speed sessions in their weekly running. Runners were instructed to maintain a pain level at no more than 20 out of 100 VAS when running. If pain remained below this level, they were advised to gradually increase their running load the following week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cardiff Metropolitan University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-03

Primary Completion

2026-02-21

Completion

2026-02-21

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations