Home › Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome › NCT06665204

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Practice Guideline Adherence for Patellofemoral Pain

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Practice Guideline Adherence for Patellofemoral Pain (knEE-CAPP)

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Active-duty Service member
* Aged ≥18 years
* Presence of unilateral or bilateral PFP based on the core criterion of peripatellar and/or retropatellar pain with reproduction of PFP by at least one activity that loads the patellofemoral joint during weight bearing on a flexed knee, such as prolonged sitting, kneeling, squatting, hopping, running, stair climbing, patellar palpation
* Available to participate in physical therapy treatment within 6 weeks of initial enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of tibiofemoral OA based on imaging evidence in the electronic health records in the past year or self-report
* History of patellar or intra-articular knee trauma (e.g., dislocation/fracture) or surgery
* History of neurodegenerative conditions that may affect movement patterns (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis)
* Meniscal or ligamentous pathologies within the past year based on imaging evidence of acute injury in the electronic health record or self-report
* Quadriceps or patellar tendon injuries within the past year based on imaging evidence of acute injury in the electronic health record or self-report
* Known pregnancy (pregnant females may be eligible for participation after end of pregnancy and medical clearance by a qualified and licensed healthcare provider)
* Receipt of physical therapy care for PFP within the three months prior to enrollment
* Known to be pending medical evaluation board, discharge from the military, scheduled deployment, or litigation for an injury at time of enrollment.

About the study

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.

What is being tested

• Clinical Practice Guideline-adherent Care (other)
• Usual Care (other)

Sponsor: Sara Gorczynski, PT, DPT · Participants: 440 · Started: Aug 22, 2025

Contact the study team

• Sara R Gorczynski, PT, DPT · Phone: 619-532-9704

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06665204

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.