Patellar Tendon Physiotheraphy Acute Effects Trial (PTPAFT)

Investigation of the Acute Effects of Different Physiotherapy Methods Applied to the Patellar Tendon: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigated the acute effects of different physiotherapy interventions applied to the patellar tendon. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: deep friction massage, thermal agent application, quadriceps resistance exercise, or a control group. Each intervention was delivered in a single session. Outcomes of the study included changes in skin temperature, muscle strength, flexibility, and pulse rate. All measurements were taken immediately before the intervention and again immediately after, 15 minutes after, and 60 minutes after the intervention. The study was conducted with healthy adult volunteers. The results of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how different physiotherapy modalities acutely influence the patellar tendon region.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Patellar Tendon
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Deep Friction Massage; Other: Thermal Agent Application; Other: Quadriceps Exercise

Detailed Description

This study examined the immediate physiological responses of the patellar tendon region following different physiotherapy interventions. Participants were allocated into four groups: (1) deep friction massage applied directly to the patellar tendon, (2) a locally applied superficial thermal agent, (3) a structured quadriceps resistance exercise protocol, and (4) a no-intervention control group. Each intervention was administered as a single session under standardized laboratory conditions.

Outcome measures included skin temperature assessed with thermal imaging, quadriceps muscle strength measured with a handheld dynamometer, flexibility assessed by standardized clinical procedures, and pulse rate. All measurements were collected at four time points: immediately before the intervention, immediately after, 15 minutes after, and 60 minutes after the intervention.

The study was conducted with healthy adult volunteers to evaluate the acute physiological effects of commonly used physiotherapy modalities on the patellar tendon region. The findings are intended to inform clinical decision-making by clarifying how different physiotherapy techniques influence tendon-related parameters within the first hour following treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 84
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • balçova
    • Izmir, balçova, Turkey (Türkiye), 35330
      • Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18 to 24 years
• Not having engaged in regular exercise training within the past 6 months
• Body Mass Index (BMI) below 30
• Ability to complete all assessment procedures
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of any systemic or musculoskeletal disorder
• Onset of pain during the assessment procedure
• History of knee joint or peri-articular injury within the past 6 months
• Presence of neurological, vascular, or rheumatological disease
• Any dermatological condition that may affect skin integrity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Deep Friction Massage; A single session of deep friction massage applied directly to the patellar tendon	Other: Deep Friction Massage; A single session of deep friction massage applied directly to the patellar tendon.
Experimental: Thermal Agent Application; A locally applied superficial thermal agent delivered as a single session.	Other: Thermal Agent Application; A single application of a thermal agent (hot pack) applied to the patellar tendon region.
Experimental: Quadriceps Exercise; A single session of standardized quadriceps resistance exercise protocol.	Other: Quadriceps Exercise; A single session of quadriceps resistance exercise targeting knee extensor muscles.
No Intervention: Control; No treatment administered; participants remained at rest during the session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Skin Temperature Change	Skin temperature of the patellar tendon region measured using infrared thermography at four time points to analyze acute thermal response.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 15 minutes after, 60 minutes after
Quadirceps Muscle Strength	Isometric quadriceps muscle strength measured with a handheld dynamometer at four time points to assess acute changes following intervention.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 15 minutes after, 60 minutes after
Hamstring and Quadriceps Flexibility	Flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstring assessed using a standardized stretching test at four time points to assess evaluate changes.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 15 minutes after, 60 minutes after
Dorsalis Pedis Pulse Rate	Pulse rate measured by palpation at four time points (baseline, immediately after intervention, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes) to evaluate acute cardiovascular response to the intervention.	Baseline, immediately after intervention, 15 minutes after, 60 minutes after

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dokuz Eylul University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 20, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 21, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 21, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): January 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 5, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle strength; acute effects; physical therapy modalities; thermal imaging; flexibility; healthy adults; deep friction massage; thermography; patellar tendon; knee biomechanics; physiotheraphy; quadriceps exercise; tendon temperature; tendon physiology; patellar tendinitis; Patellar tendon pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: PTT-2025-DEU

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No