Muscle Strength Loss and Its Effect on Knee Cap Motion in Volunteers With Anterior Knee Pain (NCT01862731) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Muscle Strength Loss and Its Effect on Knee Cap Motion in Volunteers With Anterior Knee Pain
United States35 participantsStarted 2013-05-31
Plain-language summary
Background:
\- Researchers are interested in how the muscles affect the movement of the knee cap. These muscles may be related to different kinds of knee pain that are not caused by an injury or a disease. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to look at these muscles. To study these muscles and how they move, researchers will use MRI to look at healthy individuals and individuals with knee cap pain.
Objectives:
\- To study how changes to the muscles around the knee can influence knee pain.
Eligibility:
* Individuals between 18 to 55 years of age who have knee cap pain that cannot be explained by a specific injury or disease.
* Healthy volunteers between 18 and 55 years of age.
Design:
* Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history.
* This study requires two visits. Each visit will use standard MRI sequences to take images of the knee in motion and at rest.
* On the first visit, the MRI scan will look at the knee in its natural state. Participants will move the knee up and down for 1 to 3 minutes at a time during the scan.
* On the second visit, a local anesthetic agent will be injected into the muscle of the thigh. The anesthetic will block this muscle from generating force for 2 or 3 hours. Participants will move the knee up and down for 1 to 3 minutes at a time during the MRI scan.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 55 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Male and female volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55
Exclusion criteria
. Any relevant medical problems, including 933 those preventing ambulation
. 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)
. Allergy/hypersensitivity to any local anesthetic agent (e.g., Novocain, lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine)
. Liver disease
. Open angle glaucoma
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial studied how muscle strength loss affects kneecap movement in people with anterior knee pain — can you explain what they found about patellar tracking, and whether those findings change anything about how you'd approach my treatment?
2Since this was a completed observational study measuring kneecap kinematics and pain levels rather than testing a treatment, would the data from this trial actually help guide a specific therapy for me, or is it more of a foundational research piece?
3The trial focused on volunteers with patellofemoral pain syndrome — do you think my knee pain fits that diagnosis closely enough that findings from this study would be relevant to my situation?
4If muscle weakness around the knee is contributing to my kneecap not tracking properly, would a physical therapy or strengthening program be worth trying based on this kind of research, and what would that look like in practice?
5Are there any active treatment trials for patellofemoral pain syndrome that you'd recommend I look into, now that this observational study is completed and not enrolling anyone?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
PF kinematics and the level of pain experience by the subject
Timeframe: prior to and after a nerve block
Trial details
NCT IDNCT01862731
SponsorNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)