ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07445607"MTPP"Updated Mar 3, 2026

"Mulligan Technique vs Phonophoresis With Chitosan for Patellofemoral Pain"

An interventional study of Mulligan technique and Phonophoresis with Chitosan Gel in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, sponsored by Ahram Canadian University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-03.

Sponsored by Ahram Canadian University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jul 2026, 4 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
45
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common knee condition causing pain and dysfunction. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two physical therapy treatments for PFPS: Mulligan mobilization with movement technique versus phonophoresis with chitosan gel.

Forty-five participants with patellofemoral pain syndrome will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) Mulligan technique group, (2) Phonophoresis with chitosan gel group, or (3) Control group receiving standard physical therapy exercises. Each group will receive treatment 3 times per week for 4 weeks.

The researchers want to determine which treatment is more effective in improving neuromuscular control, reducing pain, and improving function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Participants will be assessed before and after the treatment period.

This study may help physical therapists and healthcare providers choose the most effective treatment approach for patients with patellofemoral pain.

02

Conditions studied

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
03

In context

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

297 studies on the registry are indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; 74 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 45 is close to the median of 45 across 244 interventional studies indexed under Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Browse Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Ahram Canadian University is the lead sponsor of 71 studies on the registry; 42 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Insidious onset of anterior knee pain
  • Retro patellar or peripatellar pain
  • Pain duration more than four weeks (chronic/subacute)
  • Pain severity ≥ 3/10 on Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
  • Pain during at least two of the following activities: stair ascent or descent, squatting, prolonged sitting (theater sign), or kneeling
  • Positive patellar compression test (pain reproduced by compressing the patella into the trochlear groove)
  • Patellar tenderness along the medial or lateral borders
  • Age between 18 and 35 years
  • Baseline Kujala score (Arabic version): approximately 67-71 (indicating moderate to severe dysfunction)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Traumatic injury (e.g., dislocation, fracture, ligament or meniscus pathology)
  • Inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, gout)
  • Prior knee surgery
  • Current use of NSAIDs or
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Care provider)
Enrollment
45 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Mulligan Technique Group

    Participants receive hip and knee strengthening exercises combined with Mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) technique for the patellofemoral joint. MWM is performed in three sets of 10 repetitions, with a 30-second rest interval between sets. Treatment sessions are conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks.

    Procedure: Mulligan technique

  • Experimental
    Phonophoresis with Chitosan Group

    Phonophoresis (ultrasound with chitosan gel) is applied at 1 MHz, 1.0 W/cm², continuous mode, for 5 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks before hip and knee exercises.

    Procedure: Phonophoresis with Chitosan Gel

  • Active comparator
    Control Group ( Standard Physical Therapy Group)

    Participants receive standard physical therapy for patellofemoral pain consisting of hip and knee strengthening exercises, stretching, and functional training. Sessions are conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Exercises include hip and knee strengthening exercises and stretches for the quadriceps, hamstring, iliotibial band, and calf muscles with weekly progression.

    Behavioral: Standard Physical Therapy Exercise Program

Interventions

  • ProcedureMulligan technique

    Each mobilization with movement (MWM) is performed in three sets of 10 repetitions, with a 30-second rest interval between sets, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, before hip and knee strengthening exercises.

  • ProcedurePhonophoresis with Chitosan Gel

    Phonophoresis (ultrasound with chitosan gel) is applied at 1 MHz, 1.0 W/cm², continuous mode, for 5 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks before hip and knee exercises.

  • BehavioralStandard Physical Therapy Exercise Program

    Participants attend 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. Each session includes stretching and hip and knee focused exercises. Progression involves weekly increases in repetitions and resistance based on pain levels (less than 3/10).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximal rate of force development (RFD)

    Calculated from the slope of force- or torque-time curves obtained during rapid, explosive voluntary contractions also termed ballistic or rapid actions has become a key metric for assessing explosive strength in diverse populations, including athletes, older adults, and clinical patients

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks

  2. Pain at patella

    Pain measured using the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS). The scale ranges from 0 to 100 points, with 0 indicating maximum disability and 100 indicating no disability. Higher scores indicate better outcome (less pain and better function)

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Ahram Canadian unveracity
    Cairo, Giza Governorate 12573, Egypt
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 3, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07445607
Lead sponsor
Ahram Canadian University
Responsible party
Mennat Allah Aldesouky (Master's degree in biomechanics department physical therapy ,Cairo unveracity, Ahram Canadian University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 3, 2026
Start date
Feb 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Aug 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 3, 2026

Study contacts

Mennat-Allah Ali Elshafey, Master degree
Contact
Mennatallah.elshafey@acu.edu.eg
+201227232387

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Feb 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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