Adjunctive Effects of Heat vs Contrast Therapy With Otago Exercises on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS OEP CT HT)
August 25, 2026 updated by: Umber Nawaz, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences
Adjunctive Effects of Heat Versus Contrast Therapy With Otago Exercises on Pain, Swelling, Range of Motion and Functional Limitations in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the adjunctive effects of heat therapy and contrast therapy when combined with the Otago exercise program in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome aged 18 to 40 years.
The study aims to assess whether these interventions can help reduce pain and swelling, improve knee range of motion, and decrease functional limitations associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Researchers will compare two groups one receiving heat therapy with the Otago exercise program and the other receiving contrast therapy with the Otago exercise program to see which approach provides greater improvement in outcomes.
Participants will undergo regular supervised sessions that include the assigned thermal therapy and a structured set of Otago exercises targeting lower limb strength, balance, and mobility.
Study Overview
Status
Completed
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
40
Phase
- 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 Locations
-
-
Punjab Province
-
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 57000
- Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
-
-
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
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion criteria:
- Patients aged 18-40 years experiencing pain in the front of the knee, including the peripatellar or retropatellar areas.
- Patient having pain severity a minimum value of 4-7 on the numeric pain rating scale.
- Participants presenting with anterior knee pain persisting for three months or longer.
- Pre- diagnosed patients with positive patellar compression and Grind tests.
- Patients with lateral patellar tracking.
Exclusion criteria:
- Pain having a duration of less than three months or patients with previous knee surgeries.
- Recent engagement in structured lower-limb exercise or rehabilitation interventions.
- Patients with pregnancy, malignancy or any neurological dysfunctions.
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: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Experimental Group: Heat therapy with Otago exercises
Heat Therapy:
Otago Exercise Program:
Routine Physical Therapy (Medial Patellar Mobilization):
|
Heat therapy is a non-surgical technique being recognized for its application in knee pain management.
HT enhances blood flow, alleviates pain, and aids tissue repair.
It have been effective in knee osteoarthritis but have yet to be fully explored for the treatment of PFPS.
Other Names:
Contrast therapy (CT), a commonly used thermal treatment, is gaining attention as a non-invasive option for managing knee pain.
By alternating between heat and cold, CT helps stimulate circulation, reduce swelling, and ease joint stiffness.
While it has shown benefits in other knee conditions, its potential role in treating patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is still not well established.
|
|
Active Comparator: Active Experimental Group: Contrast therapy with Otago exercises
Contrast Therapy:
Otago Exercise Program:
Routine Physical Therapy (Medial Patellar Mobilization):
|
Heat therapy is a non-surgical technique being recognized for its application in knee pain management.
HT enhances blood flow, alleviates pain, and aids tissue repair.
It have been effective in knee osteoarthritis but have yet to be fully explored for the treatment of PFPS.
Other Names:
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Range Of Motion
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
|
Measured by a universal goniometer.
|
4 Weeks
|
|
Pain Intensity
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
|
Assessed by using the NPRS scale.
0-4 scored as No pain to mild pain 5-7 scored as Moderate pain 8-10 scored as Severe pain
|
4 Weeks
|
|
Swelling
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
|
Measured by a inelastic tape (Girth measurement)
|
4 Weeks
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Functional limtations
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
|
The Lysholm scale is an 8-question survey initially developed to assess functional ability of knee following knee ligament injury.
Subsequently, it was demonstrated to be valid for assessing patients with various knee pathologies.
The scale measures multiple domains of knee function, including pain, dependence on supportive devices, instability, locking, joint swelling, gait abnormalities, stair climbing, and squatting ability
|
4 Weeks
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
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)
December 10, 2025
Primary Completion (Actual)
May 10, 2026
Study Completion (Actual)
May 12, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
December 6, 2025
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
December 6, 2025
First Posted (Actual)
December 19, 2025
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 27, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 25, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- LCPT/DPT/ERB/31
- U1111-1332-0257 (Registry Identifier: WHO- Universal Trial Number)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
YES
IPD Plan Description
Will be shared after research publication
IPD Sharing Time Frame
6 months
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
Researcher, Layman,
IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type
- STUDY_PROTOCOL
- CSR
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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