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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07139158

Muscle Oxygenation in Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral joint problems account for a significant portion of knee pain and disability. Among these problems, patellofemoral pain is not directly related to any obvious structural abnormality and is characterized by pain in the retro- or peri-patellar region, particularly during activities such as squatting, running, and climbing stairs. It is commonly seen in the general population. The current literature highlights the tendency of patellofemoral pain to recur and become chronic despite all treatments. Individuals with patellofemoral pain often experience disorders in the neuromuscular function of the quadriceps femoris muscle, which is necessary for knee function and dynamic stability and is frequently suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of the disease. A decrease in the tissue's ability to utilize oxygen during exercise or physical activity may lead to permanent dysfunction of the quadriceps femoris muscle. However, no studies have been found in the literature examining changes in oxygenation of the quadriceps femoris muscle in individuals with patellofemoral pain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate changes in oxygenation of the quadriceps femoris muscle in individuals with patellofemoral pain during various exercises and physical activities by comparing them with pain-free individuals.

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Key information

Conditions

Patellofemoral Pain, PFP Anxiety Disorders Behavior Joint Diseases Kinesiophobia Mental Disorders Motor Activity Musculoskeletal Diseases Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Phobic Disorders

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ankara Medipol University

Ankara, Altındağ, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 18-40 years of age
  • pain around or behind the patella, which is aggravated by at least one activity that loads the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing on a flexed knee (e.g., squatting, stair ambulation, jogging/running, hopping/jumping)
  • the pain persist for at least four months, and be rated at ≥ 3/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
  • vastus medialis muscle adipose tissue thickness <20 mm

Pain-free controls were age- and gender-matched, with vastus medialis muscle adipose tissue thickness <20 mm.

Exclusion criteria

  • a history of joint surgery
  • meniscal and/or ligament injuries
  • patellar instability, congenital patellar subluxation/dislocation
  • any cardiovascular, congenital, or musculoskeletal disorders that could interfere with the assessment

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle Oxygenation

    Time frame: Day 1

    Vastus medialis muscle oxygenation will be evaluated with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy at rest, during and after activity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Kujala Patellofemoral Score Scale

    Time frame: Day 1

    Kujala patellofemoral scoring is a tool that allows functional evaluation of knee complaints related to the patellofemoral structure. Different scoring systems have been developed for knee-specific symptoms; however, only a few of these are focused on patellofemoral pain.The Kujala Patellofemoral Score Scale is graded on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest possible score.

  2. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

    Time frame: Day 1

    Provides information on time spent walking, moderate and vigorous activities, and time spent sitting. Calculation of the total score of the short form includes the sum of the duration (minutes) and frequency (days) of walking, moderate-intensity activity, and vigorous activity. The energy required for activities is calculated with the metabolic equivalent(MET) -minute score. Standard metabolic equivalent (MET) values have been established for these activities.

  3. Adipose tissue thickness

    Time frame: Day 1

    The skinfold thickness of vastus medialis muscle was evaluated with a Skinfold Caliper. Adipose tissue thickness was obtained by dividing the skinfold thickness by two.

  4. Numeric Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: Day 1

    Numeric pain rating scale is a scale used to quantify pain intensity. It is divided into eleven equal parts; for example 0 - 10. O means that there is no pain at all, 1 - 3 divisional range falls in the mild category pain , 4 - 6 indicates the symptoms of moderate pain while 7 - 10 reading symptoms the severity of pain.

  5. Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

    Time frame: Day 1

    The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale is a 17-question questionnaire that assesses avoidance of injury and fear of movement. The scale is scored using a Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree, 4 = Strongly agree). Items 4, 8, 12 and 16 are reversed to calculate the total score of the scale. The total score is between 17 and 68. As the score of the person increases, it is understood that their kinesiophobia is high. A total score higher than 37 is considered as high kinesiophobia.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara Medipol University

Other

Collaborators

  • Gazi University

Registry information

Official study title

Quadriceps Muscle Oxygenation During Different Lower Limb Tasks in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 24, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 10, 2026

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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