Actively Recruiting
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Practice Guideline Adherence for Patellofemoral Pain
Led by Sara Gorczynski, PT, DPT · Updated on 2026-05-06
440
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
162 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
S
Sara Gorczynski, PT, DPT
Lead Sponsor
B
Brooke Army Medical Center
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The overall goal of this multisite, randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG)-adherent physical therapy approach to patellofemoral pain (PFP) management among military Service members. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can a CPG-adherent care approach to PFP management improve short- and long-term knee function, pain, and confidence with completing duty-related activities? 2. Can a CPG-adherent care approach to PFP management reduce utilization of healthcare resources and analgesic medication prescription at 12-month follow-up? 3. Are there patient- and care-specific factors that predict or mediate clinical benefit from physical therapy care for PFP? Researchers will compare the CPG-adherent physical therapy intervention to usual physical therapy care in the Military Health System. Participants will: 1) be randomized to receive CPG-adherent care or usual care for PFP management; 2) attend physical therapy corresponding to their group assignment; and 3) complete patient-reported outcome measures at baseline and 6-weeks and 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-randomization.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Practice Guideline Adherence for Patellofemoral Pain
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Active-duty Service member
- Aged 618 years
- Unilateral or bilateral patellofemoral pain with pain reproduced by at least one activity loading the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing on a flexed knee (e.g., prolonged sitting, kneeling, squatting, hopping, running, stair climbing, patellar palpation)
- Available to participate in physical therapy treatment within 6 weeks of enrollment
You will not qualify if you...
- Tibiofemoral osteoarthritis based on imaging or self-report within the past year
- History of patellar or intra-articular knee trauma (e.g., dislocation, fracture) or surgery
- History of neurodegenerative conditions affecting movement (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis)
- Meniscal or ligament injuries within the past year based on imaging or self-report
- Quadriceps or patellar tendon injuries within the past year based on imaging or self-report
- Known pregnancy (pregnant females may participate after pregnancy ends and with medical clearance)
- Receipt of physical therapy for patellofemoral pain within 3 months prior to enrollment
- Pending medical evaluation board, scheduled discharge, deployment, or litigation for an injury at enrollment
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, California, United States, 92134
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sara R Gorczynski, PT, DPT
CONTACT
S
Shanmugasundaram Natesan, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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