Dosage-dependence of Graded Exercise Therapy in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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With this study two different therapeutic exercise regimens will be compared in patients with anterior knee pain (patellofemoral pain syndrome, PFPS).

Detailed Description
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Exercise therapy is widely used in the conservative treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), but there is still no consensus on recommending any specific rehabilitation program. This study evaluates two different therapeutic exercise regimens in patients with PFPS and their effect on pain at rest and function. Supervised exercise therapy will be applied in both groups three times a week over a 3-month period with individually tailored and graded exercise programs, differing between groups in terms of number of exercises, number of repetitions and sets, and time spent on performing aerobic exercises.

Official Title
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Dosage-dependence of Graded Exercise Therapy in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Conditions
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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: High exercise therapy
* Behavioral: Low exercise therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Presence of at least 3 symptoms of the following: Pain when Walking stairs Squatting Running Cycling Sitting with knees flexed for a prolonged period of time Grinding of the patella Other positive physical tests (Clarke's test, patellar crepitus, tenderness upon palpation of the posterior surface of the patella, patellar facets or surrounding structures) Exclusion Criteria: Knee osteoarthrosis/ arthritis previous knee injury or knee operations patellar tendinopathy Osgood- Schlatter's disease Other defined pathological conditions of the knee

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: high exercise<br>High dose, high repetition exercise therapy, 3 times weekly in 12 weeks | Behavioral: High exercise therapy<br> <br> |
| Experimental: low exercise<br>low dose, low repetition exercise therapy, 3 times weekly in 12 weeks | Behavioral: Low exercise therapy<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain measured by a Visual analogue scale (VAS). | This scale was illustrated with a 100 mm horizontal line with descriptors no pain at the 0 mm mark and worst pain imaginable anchoring the 100 mm. Participants were required to place a vertical mark on the horizontal line, representing their average level of pain experienced during the last 24 hours. This was done at rest and provided an illustration of the perceived pain severity, rated in millimetres. | Pre-test, post-test (after completed intervention at 3 months) and one year follow-up. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Function measured by a Step-down test and by a modified Functional Index Questionnaire (FIQ). |  | Pre-test, post-test (at 3 months after completed intervention) and at one year follow-up. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Knee, Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Pain, Patella, Exercise Therapy