Limited Ankle Dorsiflexion and Effect on Single Limb Squats in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain

August 19, 2026 updated by: Loma Linda University

Limited Ankle Dorsiflexion and Effect on Single Limb Squats in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain: Interventions and Outcomes in a Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this graduate student research study is to investigate the relationship between limited ankle dorsiflexion and the potential effects on a single limb squat task in the Patellofemoral/Knee Pain population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

  1. Participants will undergo Covid screening prior to filling out consent form and PHI. Randomization will occur to create an experimental group and a minimal intervention group.
  2. Participants will complete two self-reported questionnaires on how their diagnosis affects functional activities.
  3. Dorsiflexion range of motion in a weight bearing position will be taken.
  4. Hip abductor strength on tested limb will be measure on isokinetic device.
  5. The Lateral Step Down test will be conducted for 6 trials on each participant, 3 with a heel wedge and 3 without, movement recorded, and graded using two motion capture devices.
  6. The experimental group will receive two interventions to increase dorsiflexion range of motion. The minimal intervention group will read and infographic and complete 5 minutes of treadmill walking.
  7. Each participant will then have their dorsiflexion measured again prior to completing another 3 trials of the Lateral Step Down test.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Everett Lohman, DSc
  • Phone Number: 83171 909-558-4632
  • Email: elohman@llu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Loma Linda, California, United States, 92350
        • Recruiting
        • Loma Linda University
        • Contact:
          • Everett Lohman, DSc
          • Phone Number: 83171 909-558-4632
          • Email: elohman@llu.edu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 59 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • History of active Patellofemoral Pain for at least 6 months
  • No clinic based therapeutic interventions for a 6-month period prior to testing
  • Females aged 18-59 years' old
  • Limited ankle dorsiflexion as noted by <45degs using the weight bearing lunge test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of musculoskeletal surgery or fractures on the tested leg or lumbar spine that could affect their biomechanics during the study
  • History of soft tissue or skeletal abnormalities in the tested limb
  • Current knee effusion
  • Resting pain greater than 5/10

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Primary Intervention Group
The experimental group will receive two interventions to increase dorsiflexion range of motion.
Other: Mobilization with Movement
Participants will be lunging on a box with posterior ankle glide of 10 seconds times 5 sets. They will have 30 seconds rest between trials. Participant will have their ankle taped and then walk on a treadmill at a self-selected pace for 5 minutes.
Active Comparator: Minimal Intervention Group
The minimal intervention group will read and infographic and complete 5 minutes of treadmill walking.
Other: No mobilization with movement and education
Participants ankle will not be taped and they will walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes and receive education.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight bearing lunge test
Time Frame: change between baseline and post intervention on Day 1
This test is used to assess a participant's available dorsiflexion range of motion in a weight bearing position. Furthermore, this places the participants hip, knee, and ankle into a flexed position which correlates with the squat tests we will be using.
change between baseline and post intervention on Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patellofemoral Disability Index
Time Frame: change between baseline and post intervention on Day 1
The Index is a self-reported questionnaire that addresses the amount of pain a person may have during tasks such as running, jumping, and stair climbing.
change between baseline and post intervention on Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Loma Linda University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Everett Lohman, DSc, Loma Linda University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 2, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 8, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 15, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 17, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 19, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 5220026

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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