Clamshell exercises for treating knee pain in athletes

Effects of Clamshell Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion and Functions in Athletes With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Not applicable Interventional Riphah International University · NCT06130696

This study tests if doing clamshell exercises can help athletes with knee pain feel better and move more easily.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment38 (estimated)
Ages16 Years to 40 Years
SexFemale
SponsorRiphah International University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lahore, Punjab)
Trial IDNCT06130696 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of clamshell exercises in treating patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) in athletes. A total of 38 participants will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group performing clamshell exercises or a control group doing simple exercises over a six-week period. The study will measure outcomes such as pain intensity, range of motion, and functional mobility using various assessment tools. Data analysis will be conducted using SPSS software to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are athletes with a history of knee pain lasting at least three months and a pain intensity score of 3 or higher.

Not a fit: Patients with degenerative knee changes, a history of patellar dislocation, or other specific knee conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce knee pain and improve function in athletes suffering from PFPS.

How similar studies have performed: While there is existing literature on exercise interventions for PFPS, the specific focus on clamshell exercises in this context is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients have at least three months history of peri- or retropatellar pain with worst pain intensity during previous week of VAS 3 or more.
* Players with complain of knee pain.
* Individual having pain during compression of the patella, palpation of the patellar facets

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any degenerative changes of the knee or hip.
* History of patellar dislocation.
* Evidence of edema, Osgood-Schlatter disease or Sinding-Larsen-Johanssen syndrome, patellar -tendinopathy, chondral injury, osteoarthritis.

Joint or muscle injuries in the hip, lumbar pain, sacroiliac pain.

-Patients who previously received surgical treatment in the knee or hip joints, and bilateral complaint of anterior knee pain

Where this trial is running

Lahore, Punjab

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeClamshell exercises.PainPatellofemoral pain syndromeFunctionAthelete
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.