Hip and foot moves may ease stubborn knee pain — a trial puts the theory to the test
NCT ID NCT07734051
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether adding a gentle hip ligament stretch to a foot joint mobilization can reduce pain and improve knee function in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), a common cause of front knee pain. Eighty adults with PFPS will receive either standard physical therapy, foot joint mobilization alone, or foot mobilization plus the hip technique over four weeks. Researchers will measure changes in pain intensity, pain threshold, knee function, and the Q-angle (a measure of kneecap alignment).
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- manual therapy techniques: inguinal ligament mobilization and talonavicular joint mobilization
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer a simple, non-drug treatment option for chronic knee pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with no blinding, so results may be influenced by placebo effects or therapist bias.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 80 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * • Diagnosis of PFPS, based on clinical and radiographic criteria (no other knee pathologies) referred by orthopedic physicians. * Subjects diagnosed with unilateral PFP with at least three months. * Age of subjects ranges from 18 to 40 years . * BMI less than 30 kg/ m2. * Subjects complaining from increasing pain severity after at least two of the following provocative activities as (Stair ascent and descent, Squatting, Kneeling, running, or prolonged sitting). * Subjects included in the study should record a positive grind test. * Subjects with tension of inguinal ligament either "mechanical strain, injury, repetitive movement or pelvic instability as anterior pelvic tilting" which leads to PFPS based on positive inguinal ligament tension test. * Foot pronation position "mobile type" which leads to PFPS based on positive "The wear test or the wet foot test". * Q angle in men 18-22 degree and in women 22 25 degree. Exclusion Criteria: * • Chronic pain conditions unrelated to PFPS. * Pregnancy or recent trauma to the pelvic or knee region. (Mills et al., 2005). * History of steroid injection of the knee. * Ankle arthritis, gouty arthritis. * History of any surgical intervention of the back, hip, knee or foot. * Lower limb deformity such as pes-planus, knee valgus or varus deformities. * Previous lower limb disease such as hip and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. * Diabetes or Peripheral neuropathy.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faqus
Fāqūs, Sharkeya, 055, Egypt
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a Hands-On technique boost knee exercise results?
- Simple foot exercise may ease stubborn knee pain in women