A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Group 1 and Group 2 in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, sponsored by University of Lahore. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-08.
Sponsored by University of Lahore · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment
The patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common cause for "anterior knee pain" and mainly affects young women. the effectiveness of Mulligan technique with or without diclofenac phonophoresis on pain, range of motion and functional disability of knee joint in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome is known little. This study, ethically approved, focused on patients with anterior knee pain referred to the Physical Therapy Department from Lahore General Hospital. After eligibility assessments and consent, participants were randomly assigned to Group A (Experimental) or Group B (Control). Over four weeks, three sessions per week, routine physiotherapy and specific exercises will be administered, with Group A receiving additional Phonophoresis using ultrasound and diclofenac gel. Outcome variables (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, KOOS-PF, Universal Goniometer) will be assessed by a blinded assessor at baseline and study completion.
Background: The patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common cause for "anterior knee pain" and mainly affects young women without any structural changes such as increased Q-angle or significant pathological changes in articular cartilage.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Mulligan technique with or without diclofenac phonopheresis on pain, range of motion and functional disability of knee joint in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Methodology: This study, ethically approved, focused on patients with anterior knee pain referred to the Physical Therapy Department from Lahore General Hospital. After eligibility assessments and consent, participants were randomly assigned to Group A (Experimental) or Group B (Control). Over four weeks, three sessions per week, routine physiotherapy and specific exercises were administered, with Group A receiving additional Phonophoresis using ultrasound and diclofenac gel. Outcome variables (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, KOOS-PF, Universal Goniometer) were assessed by a blinded assessor at baseline and study completion.
295 studies on the registry are indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; 75 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 68 is above the median of 45 across 242 interventional studies indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.
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Patients of age range 20-45 years and both genders (Rehman, 2021 #171)
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with other knee pathologies; meniscus tears, bursitis, patellar tendon injury, ligamentous injury
The participants randomly allocated in Group A were receive the Phonophoresis (Ultrasound with Diclofenac gel for 5 minutes and intensities 1 MHz and 1.5 W/cm² pulsed waves was used in the therapy sessions on affected knee with diclofenac gel on ultrasound head) as experimental technique
Combination Product: Group 1
The treatment involved routine physiotherapy with TENS at 80 Hz and a pulse duration of 50-100 μs, followed by a 15-minute hot pack. It also included stretching exercises for the hamstring and calf muscles, isometric strengthening of the quadriceps and VMO, straight leg raises with traction, and tibial gliding techniques. The MWM technique consisted of SLR with traction, repeated 10 times with 3 sets and a 1-minute interval in between.
Combination Product: Group 2
The treatment included TENS therapy, hot pack application, stretching exercises, isometric strengthening, straight leg raises with traction, and tibial gliding techniques. Participants in Group A also received Phonophoresis as an experimental technique.
The treatment included routine physiotherapy with TENS, hot pack application, stretching exercises, isometric strengthening, straight leg raises with traction, and tibial gliding techniques.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
The Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a subjective measure in which individuals rate their pain on an eleven-point numerical scale. The scale is composed of 0 (no pain at all) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
Time frame: 4 weeks
KOOS-PF Scale
KOOS-PF is a subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) that specifically measures symptoms and function related to patellofemoral pain and osteoarthritis. It was developed to provide a more detailed assessment in this specific knee condition. The score is a percentage score from 0 to 100, 0 representing extreme problems and 100 representing no problems. This direction, 100 indicating no problems.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Universal Goniometer
It has a scale for the measurement of the angle. The scale can extend from 0 to 180 degrees for half-circle models or 0 to 360 degrees for full-circle models.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — After the completion of the study
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Lahore