The Immediate Effects of Passive Hip Joint Mobilization on Hip Muscle Strength in Patients With Anterior Knee Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to assess the immediate effects of passive hip joint mobilisation (in comparison to a sham mobilisation) on eccentric hip abductor/external rotator muscle strength on the basis of manual muscle testing with a hand-held-dynamometer within a double-blinded cross-over study design. Patients with anterior knee pain and signs of impaired hip function will be recruited in Vienna and surrounding area, measurements/data collection will be conducted by two experienced physiotherapists in a physiotherapy group practice in 1150 Vienna.

Official Title
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What Are the Immediate Effects of Passive Hip Joint Mobilization on Hip Abductor/External Rotator Muscle Strength in Patients With Anterior Knee Pain and Impaired Hip Function

Conditions
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Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Joint Mobilization
* Other: Laying on of Hands


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: diagnosis: anterior knee pain Prescription for physiotherapeutic treatment of anterior knee pain signs of functional hip impairment: impaired hip kinematics during single leg squat reduced passive hip joint mobility in comparison to the other, unaffected side manually weak tested hip abductors/external rota-tors in comparison to the other, unaffected side Exclusion Criteria: intraarticular knee pathology preceding trauma/operation of lower extremity on affected side spinal disorders associated with low back pain, lumbar referred pain or nerve root irritation severe and/or recurring ankle sprains in recent history (significant enough, that it required a period of immobilization) other relevant comorbidities such as neurologic/rheumatologic/psychiatric diseases, osteoporosis and malign disorders pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 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: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Hip Joint Mobilization<br>passive accessory movement on femur in anterior/posterior direction, grade III for four minutes and passive physiological movement of the most restricted hip joint movement, grade III for one minute (without pain), and a verbal education of hypothesized underlying effect mechanisms. | Other: Joint Mobilization<br>* Manual Therapy Intervention, commonly used by physiotherapists<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Laying on of Hands<br>grade I, very small amplitude without encountering any tissue resistance for five minutes, thus effectively a Laying on of Hands, with a verbal education of hypothesized underlying effect mechanisms. | Other: Laying on of Hands<br>* Sham Hip Joint Mobilization<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle Strength | muscle strength data obtained from torque measurements of the hip abductor/external rotator muscles of participants before and after intervention via manual muscle testing (using a hand-held dynamometer) | 10 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mobilization, muscle strength, hip abductors, hip external rotators