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CompletedNCT06551922Updated Jan 31, 2025

Effects of IASTM With and Without CT on Pain, ROM, and Functional Disability in Post-Operative Knee Stiffness Patients

An interventional study of Instrumental Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique with Conservative Treatment and Conservative Treatment in Pain, Pain, Postoperative and Pain, Joint, sponsored by University of Lahore. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 25 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-31.

Sponsored by University of Lahore · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 6 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jan 2024, registered Aug 2024).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
84
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
25 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This single-blinded randomized control study aimed to determine the effects of instrumental soft tissue mobilization technique with and without conservative treatment in post-operative knee stiffness patients. This study recruited 84 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups using the lottery method. The assessor was unaware of the treatment given to both groups. Data were collected at baseline, at the end of the third week, and at the end of the sixth week. Baseline assessments were conducted before the intervention. Post-intervention assessments were conducted immediately after the intervention. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of IASTM, both with and without traditional conservative treatment methods, in improving pain, range of motion, and functional ability in patients experiencing post-operative knee stiffness. By examining these factors, we gained valuable insights into the potential of IASTM as a therapeutic intervention for this challenging condition.

Read the detailed description

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) is emerging as a valuable tool for physiotherapists, offering a range of benefits for both practitioners and patients. By integrating IASTM with traditional methods, physiotherapists can elevate the standard of care, improve patient outcomes, and even contribute to a healthier community.

Study Design:

  • Randomized Control Trial

Screening:

  • Patients were screened to meet inclusion criteria. The consent form was taken from patients and then randomly allocated into two groups ( 42 in each group).

Randomization:

  • Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into experimental and control groups using the lottery method.

Blinding:

  • The study was single-blinded. The assessor was unaware of the treatment given to both groups.

Assessment:

  • Data was collected at baseline, at the end of the third week and the end of 6th week. Baseline assessments were conducted before the intervention. Post-intervention assessments were conducted immediately after the intervention.

Intervention:

  • Group A (Instrumental Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique with Conservative Treatment)
  • Group B (Conservative Treatment Only)

Progress Monitoring:

  • Treatment intensity and exercise difficulty were progressively adjusted for both groups throughout the intervention based on participant tolerance and progress.

Ethical Considerations:

  • This study has received ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Data Analysis:

  • Statistical software was used to analyze the data, with appropriate tests employed based on data normality to compare outcomes between groups.
02

Conditions studied

  • Pain
  • Pain, Postoperative
  • Pain, Joint
  • Knee Pain Chronic

Keywords

  • Range of motion
  • Knee Stiffness
  • Functional Disability
  • Conservative treatment
  • Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
03

In context

Arthralgia

273 studies on the registry are indexed under Arthralgia; 41 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 84 is above the median of 63 across 219 interventional studies indexed under Arthralgia.

Browse Arthralgia studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Lahore is the lead sponsor of 223 studies on the registry; 40 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
25 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants aged 25 to 50 years (Meena et al., 2023)
  • Participants of both genders (Meena et al., 2023)
  • Participants who have undergone post-operative knee stiffness surgery (Meena et al., 2023)
  • Patients having knee fracture (Poliakov et al., 2020).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with total knee replacement (Poliakov et al., 2020).
  • Participants with knee osteoarthritis or other knee conditions not related to post-operative knee stiffness (Meena et al., 2023)
  • Participants with other joint conditions not related to the knee (Mezey et al., 2023)
  • Post-operative knee stiffness patients with comorbidities that may affect the outcome of the study (Mezey et al., 2023)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
84 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Instrumental Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique with Conservative Treatment

    Apply TENS for 10 minutes to administer a microcurrent therapy to participants. The IASTM was applied for 90 seconds- 2 minutes on each muscle along with the stretching exercises. The intervention was applied 3 times per week. Muscle involved: * Hip Adductors * Hamstrings * Quadriceps * Patellar tendon * Iliotibial band * Calf muscles.

    Combination Product: Instrumental Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique with Conservative Treatment

  • Experimental
    Conservative Treatment

    For conservative treatment apply TENS for 10 minutes to administer a micro current therapy to participants. Than Stretching exercises ( Hamstrings and Quadriceps), Strengthening exercises (Quadriceps, Hamstring, Calf ), Balance exercises and Ice Therapy.

    Combination Product: Conservative Treatment

Interventions

  • Combination productInstrumental Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique with Conservative Treatment

    TENS: Apply TENS for 10 minutes on the greater trochanter and the area just above the lateral knee joint line, adhesive electrodes were positioned. Frequency: 3 times per week. Duration: 90 seconds- 2 minutes on each muscle (Purbia, 2023). Technique: A therapist uses Ergon tools to apply gentle pressure and strokes along the targeted muscles and fascial tissues. Different IASTM techniques, like stroking, raking, and hooking, address specific tissue restrictions. The therapist should continue the IASTM technique for 5-10 minutes, or until the stiffness in the knee is reduced (Mubashar et al., 2022; Purbia, 2023). Conservative Treatment: Stretching exercises for the hamstrings and quadriceps to improve flexibility and reduce tension. Affected iliotibialband. Hold for 30 seconds. Uncross your legs and stand up straight again. Repeat four more times (Mubashar et al., 2022).

  • Combination productConservative Treatment

    TENS: Apply TENS for 10 minutes on the greater trochanter and the area just above the lateral knee joint line, adhesive electrodes were positioned. Stretching exercises with hold for 30 seconds. Uncross your legs and stand up straight again (Mubashar et al., 2022). Quadriceps Strengthening: Perform exercises like straight leg raises, seated leg press and squats to strengthen (Lim \& Al-Dadah, 2022). Hamstring Strengthening: Include exercises like leg curls to strengthen the hamstring muscles (Lim \& Al-Dadah, 2022). Calf Strengthening: Perform calf raises to strengthen the calf muscles (Lim \& Al-Dadah, 2022). Balance Exercises: Incorporate balance exercises like single-leg stands on a foam pad (Lim \& Al-Dadah, 2022). Ice Therapy: Apply ice packs to the affected knee for 15-20 minutes (Lim \& Al-Dadah, 2022).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity

    Pain level measured using a visual analog scale. It consists of a 10-centimeter line with endpoints labeled to represent the two extremes of the experience being measured. For pain, the typical endpoints are "no pain" on the left and "worst imaginable pain" on the right. For pain, a score of 0 means no pain, while a score of 10 represents the worst imaginable pain.

    Time frame: 6 weeks (baseline, third week and then at the end of the sixth week)

  2. Range of motion

    Range of motion measured using a goniometer

    Time frame: 6 weeks (baseline, third week and then at the end of the sixth week)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Functional disability

    Functional disability measured using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. The scale consists of 20 items that assess the patient's ability to perform various activities, such as walking, running, and climbing stairs. The objective of the LEFS is to measure patients' initial function, ongoing progress, and outcome for a wide range of lower-extremity conditions. The maximum total score is 80, indicating no functional limitations.The minimum score is 0, indicating extreme limitations. The lower the total score, the greater the disability

    Time frame: 6 weeks (baseline, third week and then at the end of the sixth week)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Lahore
    Lahore, Punjab 54590, Pakistan
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Mubashar, H., Hassan, D., & Bushra, M. (2022). Effects of Instrumented Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Technique Versus Stretching on Ililotibal Band in Patients with Anterior Knee Pain. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 16(11), 353-353.
  • Poliakov, A., Pakhaliuk, V., & Popov, V. L. (2020). Current trends in improving of artificial joints design and technologies for their arthroplasty. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering, 6, 4.
  • Purbia, C. (2023). Effectiveness of KIASTM technique applied only quadriceps muscle for knee pain. International Journal of Orthopaedics, 9(3), 379-383.
  • Lim WB, Al-Dadah O. Conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A review of the literature. World J Orthop. 2022 Mar 18;13(3):212-229. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v13.i3.212. eCollection 2022 Mar 18. PubMed 35317254 ↗
  • Meena A, Hoser C, Abermann E, Hepperger C, Raj A, Fink C. Total knee arthroplasty improves sports activity and the patient-reported functional outcome at mid-term follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2023 Mar;31(3):905-913. doi: 10.1007/s00167-022-07025-z. Epub 2022 Jun 11. PubMed 35689683 ↗
  • Cutie MR, Lordi NG. Compatibility of verapamil hydrochloride injection in commonly used large-volume parenterals. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1980 May;37(5):675-6. PubMed 7386476 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 31, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06551922
Lead sponsor
University of Lahore
Responsible party
Sawera Ali (Student, University of Lahore) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 13, 2024
Start date
Jan 28, 2024
Primary completion
Oct 14, 2024
Completion
Dec 21, 2024
Last update
Jan 31, 2025

Study contacts

Asim Arif, M.Phil MSK
principal investigator · University of Lahore
Alishba Mustansar, M.Phil./tDPT
study director · University of Lahore

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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