Exploring how muscle strength affects knee cap movement in people with knee pain
Vasti Control of Patellofemoral Kinematics in Patients With Chronic Patellofemoral Pain.
This study is testing how muscle strength affects the movement of the knee cap in people with knee pain to help understand what might be causing their discomfort.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH |
| Locations | 1 site (Bethesda, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT01862731 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study investigates the relationship between muscle strength and knee cap motion in individuals experiencing anterior knee pain, specifically focusing on patellofemoral pain syndrome. Researchers will utilize MRI imaging to analyze the knee's movement in both healthy volunteers and those with knee pain, aiming to understand how muscle changes may influence pain levels. Participants will undergo two visits for MRI scans, capturing images of the knee in both dynamic and static positions. The study seeks to provide insights into the mechanics of knee pain that are not linked to specific injuries or diseases.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 18 to 55 who experience unexplained anterior knee pain as well as healthy volunteers within the same age range.
Not a fit: Patients with specific knee injuries, serious joint conditions, or contraindications to MRI will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved understanding and management of knee pain, potentially enhancing treatment strategies for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: While this study explores a specific aspect of knee mechanics, similar studies have shown promise in understanding patellofemoral pain, indicating a potential for success in this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Male and female volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 EXCLUSION CRITERIA: All Volunteers 1. Any relevant medical problems, including 933 those preventing ambulation 2. Any serious injury to the joint being studied, previous surgery on the joint being studiedor extreme pain at the joint being studied or other condition that may explain the presence of PF_pain (e.g., meniscal tear, arthritis) 3. Allergy/hypersensitivity to any local anesthetic agent (e.g., Novocain, lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine) 4. Liver disease 5. Open angle glaucoma 6. Cardiac arrhythmias, congenital heart disease 7. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency 8. Any female who is pregnant A volunteer will be excluded if they have a contraindication to MR imaging. Examples are: 1. Metal within their body, which might be expected to concentrate radiofrequency fields or cause tissue damage from twisting in a magnetic field (e.g., aneurysm clip, implanted neural stimulator, implanted cardiac pacemaker or autodefibrillator, cochlear implant, other foreign body (e.g. metal shavings, insulin pump). 2. A condition, which would preclude them from participating in an MR imaging study (e.g., paralyzed hemidiaphragm, morbid obesity, severe claustrophobia) 3. A condition that presents an unnecessary risk to them or their unborn child (e.g., 953 pregnancy, previous surgery of uncertain type, symptoms of pheochromocytoma or insulinoma) Subjects with Chronic Idiopathic Patellofemoral Pai: 1. Lack of PF_pain (either no active pain or current pain of \< 6 months duration) Control Volunteers: 1. Any clinical signs of a knee impairment in the joint being studied, including abnormal range of motion, muscle weakness, malalignment, and ligament damage. 2. The presence of PF_pain (either active or past)
Where this trial is running
Bethesda, Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Frances Gavelli, Ph.D. — National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
- Study coordinator: Frances Gavelli, Ph.D.
- Email: gavellif@cc.nih.gov
- Phone: (301) 451-7585
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.