Rehabilitation With Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation for Patients With Patellofemoral Pain
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
In brief
This is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) regarding the conservative treatment of patellofemoral pain (PFP) with an impairment based rehabilitation program. Those with PFP can have a variety of impairments, such as knee and hip muscle weakness, poor movement patterns, weak core activation and muscle tightness. Several recent RCT trials have looked at treating single impairments, but to date no RCT have address individualized patient impairments during a rehabilitation program. Abnormal muscle firing patterns have also been identified during functional tasks; such as jogging, stair climbing, and performing a single leg squat. Conflicting studies have produced changes to the quadriceps and hip muscle firing patterns with those with PFP. The abnormal activation patterns has been suggested to be why strengthening programs alone do not improve movement patterns during functional tasks for those with PFP. Patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS) is a novel form of electrical stimulation that replicates proper firing patterns based off healthy electromyography patterns. The purpose of the study is to investigate the benefits of PENS with a impairment based rehabilitation program for the treatment of PFP. The rationale for this investigation is to assess the benefits of PENS with therapeutic exercise at improving altered firing patterns of the lower extremity muscles during functional tasks.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT02441712
- Run by
- University of Virginia
- People needed
- 21
- Starts
- 2015-03-01
- Expected to finish
- 2017-12-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-12-19
Who can join
Age: 15 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Insidious onset of symptoms
- Presence of peri- or retro patellar knee pain during at least two of the following functional activities:
- Stair ascent or descent, Running, Kneeling, Squatting, Prolonged sitting, Jumping
- Pain for more than 3 months
- Pain >3/10 on VAS
- 85 or less on the Anterior Knee Pain Scale
You may not qualify if…
- Previous knee surgery
- Internal Derangement
- Ligamentous instability
- Other sources of anterior knee pain(patella tendonitis, osgood schlatter, knee plica, etc)
- Neurological Involvement
- Any biomedical device
- Muscular abnormalities
- Currently pregnant
- Hypersensitivity to electrical stimulation
- Active infection over the site of the electrode placement
Where it is running
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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