Comparative Effects of Cadence Training vs Elliptical Training in Cricketers

Comparative Effects of Cadence Training vs Elliptical Training on Pain, Power and Endurance Among Cricketers With Pattelofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP) is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain in sportspeople, especially those playing some sport that involves high-impact and rapid changes of direction and frequent lower-limb loading such as in cricket. The stress of patella is augmented by the activities and results in pain and functional performance decline. Strategies of rehabilitation which minimize the stress on the knee joints and maximizes strength, power and endurance are required. Elliptical training offers a low-impact aerobic alternative with negligible patellofemoral loading whereas cadence training highlights a controlled movement frequency and ideal movement patterns which may alleviate stress on the joints and increase neuromuscular coordination.

To compare the effects of cadence training versus elliptical training on pain, power, and endurance among cricketers with patellofemoral pain syndrome. It was a randomized clinical trial involving 48 cricketers aged between 18 35 years with positive patellofemoral compression test and at least 2 3 years of playing experience. The individuals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 24 each) and Group A was allocated to the cadence training and Group B to elliptical training. The sessions were conducted over six weeks with each session taking 45 minutes three times a week. The pre- and post-intervention measures were Vertical Jump Test (power), Wall Sit Test (endurance), and Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The paired, Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney and independent t tests were used to analyze the data and compare the within and between-group differences.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Sports Physical Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: cadence training; Procedure: elliptical training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Imran Amjad Phd, Phd; Phone Number: 03324390125; Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-35 years
• Male Cricketers
• Having acute & sub-acute patellofemoral pain
• Positive patellofemoral compression test
• Playing experience of 2-3 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any fracture or trauma
• Any neurological disorder
• Any other musculoskeletal illness
• Any systemic disease
• Drug addicts player

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: group A; cadence training	Procedure: cadence training; Cadence Training program was administered to Group A in a six-week period to enhance power, endurance, and knee stability among cricketers who had the patella femoral pain syndrome. Each session lasted 45 minutes, with a 5-minute warm-up of dynamic stretches to the lower body. The next thing was electrotherapy of 10 minutes to manage pain. The primary exercise was cadence training, which was to be gradually changed into moderate and then high-intensity training throughout the weeks, with the main aim being to keep the cadence steady at the station to improve the performance. Bodyweight squats, lunges were included as strength exercises, with repetitions progressing every week (10 to 20). At the end of every session, there was a 5 minutes cool-down of static stretching to enhance flexibility and aid in recovery
Experimental: group B; elliptical training	Procedure: elliptical training; Group B had a structured Elliptical Training program during the six weeks, which started with a 5-minute warm-up with dynamic stretches. The primary exercise was the elliptical intervals with the first weeks being steady-state cardio workouts and the second weeks using high-resistance intervals to develop power and endurance. This group also did bodyweight squats and lunges which were regularly done with body weight every week with repetitions of 10 to 20. At the end of every session, there was a 5 minute period of cool-down of static stretching which helped bring about recovery and flexibility

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale	Numeric Pain Rating Scale (For Pain) The measure uses an eleven point numerical scale with a 0 meaning no pain, and a 10, which means pain as bad as you can imagine or worst pain imaginable.	6 WEEKS
VERTICAL JUMP TEST	A Vertical Jump Test (VJT) was used to determine power in the lower body. The participant measures their standing reach height and then leaps as high as possible using a jump mat or measuring tape and takes a record of the jump height. Two or three jumps are usually taken and the best result is taken to analyze it.	6 WEEKS
WALL SIT TEST FOR ENDURANCE	The Wall Sit Test (For Endurance) In the Wall Sit Test, the participants will be requested to sit with their knees bent against a wall in a 90-degree angle as long as they can. This is a functional endurance test which assesses the endurance of lower body muscles that are the quadriceps, hamstrings and the gluteal muscles.	6 WEEKS

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Danish Hassan, PhD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• de Souza Júnior, J.R., Rabelo, P.H.R., Lemos, T.V., Esculier, J.F., Carto, J.P.D.S. and Matheus, J.P.C. Effects of gait retraining with focus on impact versus gait retraining with focus on cadence on pain, function and lower limb kinematics in runners with patellofemoral pain: Protocol of a randomized, blinded, parallel group trial with 6-month follow-up. PloS one. 2020;16(5), p.e0250965.
• Wei Z, Hou X, Qi Y, Wang L. Influence of foot strike patterns and cadences on patellofemoral joint stress in male runners with patellofemoral pain. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2024 Jan 1;65:1-6.
• Klich S, Michalik K, Pietraszewski B, Hansen EA, Madeleine P, Kawczyński A. Effect of applied cadence in repeated sprint cycling on muscle characteristics. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2024 May;124(5):1609-20
• O'Leary TJ, Collett J, Howells K, et al. High but not moderate-intensity endurance training increases pain tolerance: a randomised trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022;117(11):2201-10. doi:10.1007/s00421-017-3708-8
• Abbasi, A., Mohammadian, M.A., Abbasi, S. and Bashafaat, H.. The Effect of Changes in Bicycle Pedal Width on the Kinematics of Segments and Joints of Lower Extremity: Analysis of the Risk of Knee Overuse Injuries with Pedaling (A Cross-sectional Study). Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences. 2020;15(6), pp.354-360.
• He MY, Lo HP, Chen WH. Effects of Stationary Bikes and Elliptical Machines on Knee Joint Kinematics during Exercise. Medicina (1010660X). 2024 Mar 1;60(3)
• Wang J, Luo Z, Dai B, Fu W. Effects of 12-week cadence retraining on impact peak, load rates and lower extremity biomechanics in running. PeerJ. 2020 Aug 24;8:e9813.
• Aghapour E, Kamali F, Sinaei E. Effects of Kinesio Taping® on knee function and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. 2021 Oct 1;21(4):835-9
• Blond L, Hansen L. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in athletes: a 5.7-year retrospective follow-up study of 250 athletes. Acta Orthop Belg. 2024 Dec 1;64(4):393-400
• Petersen W, Rembitzki I, Liebau C. Patellofemoral pain in athletes. Open access journal of sports medicine. 2023 Jun 12:143-54.
• Vora M, Curry E, Chipman A, Matzkin E, Li X. Patellofemoral pain syndrome in female athletes: a review of diagnoses, etiology and treatment options. Orthopedic reviews. 2024 Dec 12;9(4
• Lee JH, Shin KH, Han S-B, Hwang KS, Lee SJ, Jang K-M. Prospective comparative study between knee alignment-oriented static and dynamic balance exercise in patellofemoral pain syndrome patients with dynamic knee valgus. Medicine. 2022;101(37).
• 2. Ameer T, Batool S, Tanvir A, Yousafzai MS. Frequency of Patellofemoral Pain in Female Athletes of Different Universities. Pakistan Journal of Physical Therapy (PJPT). 2019:22-6
• Asif M, Sajjad Y, Naeem AA, Ghaffar N, Riaz T, Mannan A, et al. Comparison of Specific Hip Strengthening Exercises and Conventional Knee Exercises on Pain, Muscle Strength and Function in Sprinters with Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences. 2022;16(05):686-

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR AHS/24/04/104

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