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NCT Number: NCT06569433

Efficacy of Therapeutic Exercise Compared to Femoral Nerve Mobilisation in Knee Tendinosis

Tendons, located between muscle and bone, transmit force from the former to the latter, allowing joint movement. They are composed mainly of collagen, elastin and water, and are divided into three zones: osteotendinous junction (tendon-bone), myotendinous junction (muscle-tendon) and the tendon body.

Knee tendinosis is a pathology that affects the tendons of this joint due to the breakdown of collagen in the tendon body, characterised by pain during and after exercise, inflammation and loss of function. It is common in athletes, especially in jumping sports such as basketball and volleyball, due to repetitive strain, injury or ageing. Factors such as weight, leg length and muscle strength can influence its development. Radiologically, patellar tendon thickening, and abnormalities are seen.

Treatment includes eccentric exercises, shock wave therapy, ultrasound-guided sclerosis, anti-inflammatory drugs, plasma injections and aprotinin. Neurodynamic theory suggests that altered mechanosensitivity of the femoral nerve may contribute to knee pain, and neurodynamic techniques can improve nerve mobility and reduce symptoms.

A strength exercise with isometric contractions can decrease pain for up to 45 minutes, being a therapeutic option for patellar tendinopathy without affecting muscle strength.

The research project presented in the master's thesis aims to compare the effectiveness of femoral nerve mobilisation and therapeutic exercise in the treatment of knee tendinosis.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Nowadays, tendon injuries affect a large part of the population, especially people who practice sports and the working population in industrial sectors, although they have also been observed in sedentary people. In terms of occupational diseases, these injuries account for more than 35% in the most industrialised countries of the European Union.

The indirect costs of tendinopathies can be significant in terms of lost productivity and workers' compensation.

Despite the lack of specific data on the economic impact of knee tendinosis on society, given the high prevalence of this condition, it is crucial to study its treatment to reduce recovery time and associated costs. Both therapeutic exercise and femoral nerve mobilisation are supported by scientific evidence suggesting their efficacy in the treatment of knee tendinitis. However, it is important to specifically investigate and compare how these interventions affect symptoms and function in patients with this condition.

Therapeutic exercise prevents injury and aids in the regeneration of the knee extensor system. The goal is to restore adequate strength, flexibility and endurance, as well as to correct joint limitations.

It has been studied that the success of treatment of tendinopathies may be determined by the adaptation of the exercise loads to the capacity of the tendons.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • - Patients aged 18 to 40 years old
  • Patients with chronic or acute knee tendinosis
  • Who have pain or functional limitation

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with a contraindication to treatment
  • Patients with a history of recent knee surgery or serious injury
  • Who present neurological pathologies
  • Who are using other physiotherapy techniques

Treatment and study plan

THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE AND MOBILISATION OF THE FEMORAL NERVE

Procedure

the control group that will perform only therapeutic exercise will perform a specific exercise programme for knee tendinitis under the supervision of a physiotherapist, while the intervention group that will perform therapeutic exercise plus femoral nerve mobilisation will receive therapeutic exercise sessions and femoral nerve mobilisations performed by a trained physiotherapist.

The intervention will last for 6 weeks, during which 60-minute sessions will be held at the centre, measurements will be taken during the six weeks, using standardised questionnaires to evaluate the variables (set out below) and always measuring the range of movement and femoral nerve mobility with the Slump Test on the same day of the week and at the same time of treatment.

Primary outcomes

  1. The 'pain' variable

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    The variable 'pain' is subjective and qualitative and is measured quantitatively to facilitate its analysis. In this case the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used, which facilitates the subjective evaluation of the intensity of the pain that the patient experiences, through a score based on their perception of pain, It ranges from 0 (being the lowest score therefore there is no pain) to 10 (being the highest score therefore it is at its maximum pain level)

  2. functionality (VISA-P questionnaire)

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    the VISA-P questionnaire which allows us to classify tendinopathy according to the severity of the symptoms and the functional capacity of the patients.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Silvia Martinez

CONTACT

[email protected]

626705563

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alcala

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Therapeutic Exercise Compared to Femoral Nerve Mobilisation in Knee Tendinosis: Randomised Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Aug 26, 2024
Registry last updated
Aug 26, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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