Clinical trial NCT06681961: Effects of a Squatting With Hip Adduction in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Official title: The Therapeutic Effects of a Dynamics Closed Kinetic Chain Exercise Combination With Hip Adduction in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: PFPS
Keywords: Patellofemoral pain syndrome
Vastus medialis obliquus
Squatting
Hip adduction
Lead sponsor: China Medical University Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-11-12
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Thirty PFPS participants were randomly assigned to conventional squatting (SQU) (n=15) or squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) (n=15) groups. Participants were blinded to the interventions used in the other group.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: An imbalance in the activation and onset time of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles may be one of the primary causes of PFPS. Several studies have discussed various exercise methods believed to selectively contract the (VMO) muscle for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. VMO activity is higher during static closed-chain tasks combined with hip adduction, indicating that performing hip adduction exercises may selectively strengthen the VMO muscle.

Detailed description: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) poses challenges in motor control and pain management, especially regarding balanced muscle activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL). This study introduces a home-based PFPS rehabilitation approach involving a squat exercise program with hip adduction, examining its effects on motor control and clinical outcomes. Thirty PFPS participants were randomly assigned to conventional squatting (SQU) or squatting with hip adduction (SQU-HA) groups. Participants performed exercises five days a week for 8 weeks, with pre- and post-assessments capturing clinical measures and motor control indicators using electromyography (EMG). This home-based program, integrating hip adduction into squats, enhances motor control, reduces knee stress, and improves daily function, ensuring continued care post-pandemic.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 20-50 years.
* Pain around the patella at least two of the following activities¬-standing up after prolonged sitting, going up and down the stairs, running, jumping, squatting, kneeling, and high-angle knee flexion for a long time.
* Knee joint pain for ≥3 months.
* Pain level of ≥ 30 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Had a history of patellar subluxation, dislocation, or knee surgery.
* Had central or peripheral neurological pathology.
* Had an obvious knee joint deformity or lower extremity malalignment.
* Experienced severe knee joint pain (VAS) score \> 80 mm), or received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, or physical therapy within the past 3 months.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Amplitudes of muscle activation (unit: %MVC)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: VMO/VL ratio
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: Onset time (unit: msec)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: VMO - VL (unit: msec)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: Q angle (unit: degree)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: The visual analogue scale (VAS) (unit: mm)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
measure: patellofemoral pain severity scale (PSS) (unit: score)
timeFrame: pre-intervention and after 8-week intervention
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Taichung
country: Taiwan
facility: China Medical University
Study officials:
affiliation: China Medical University, Taiwan
name: Wei-Hsien Hong, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: