A Self-Directed Web-Based Education for Boston Marathon Runners With Patellofemoral Pain
Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Patellofemoral Pain
In brief
Runners experience diverse lower extremity injuries, and the most common is patellofemoral pain (PFP)-commonly known as "runner's knee" and characterized by pain around and/or behind the kneecap. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week, self-directed, web-based education program for runners competing in the 2026 Boston Marathon. The study will evaluate outcomes, including pain, function, and marathon performance, in runners who use a web-based educational program designed to help them understand and manage knee pain. There will be two groups: Group 1 will receive the 6-week web-based educational program prior to the 2026 Boston Marathon, while Group 2 will serve as the wait-and-see control group (no intervention) prior to the marathon and then receive the same program 6 weeks after completing the marathon.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07266922
- Run by
- Boston Children's Hospital
- People needed
- 104
- Starts
- 2026-02-20
- Expected to finish
- 2026-07-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-03-10
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Insidious onset of peripatellar and/or retropatellar pain ≥3 months
- Worst pain level in the previous week ≥3/10 on the numeric pain rating scale
- Pain during at least two of the following tasks: prolonged sitting, kneeling, squatting, walking, running, jumping, and stair negotiation.
- All participants must have access to an internet-enabled device (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone) equipped with audio capabilities sufficient to engage with the web-based education platform
You may not qualify if…
- History of lower extremity surgery
- History of lower extremity pain or injury (other than patellofemoral pain) in the previous six months
- History of patellar dislocation or subluxation
- Internal derangement (e.g., meniscal lesion)
- Ligamentous instability
- Other sources of anterior knee pain (e.g., patellar tendinopathy, bursitis)
Where it is running
- Boston Children's Hospital — Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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