Reliability and Validity of Physical Tests and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound As an Add-on in Classifying Anterior Knee Pain

Launched by VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL · Mar 24, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how effective physical exams and a special imaging test called musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSU) are in diagnosing a condition known as Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome (AKP). The researchers believe that relying solely on physical exams may not provide enough information to accurately identify the different problems that can cause knee pain in patients aged 7 to 50. By adding MSU, which is a safe and easy way to see what's happening inside the knee, they hope to improve the accuracy of diagnoses.

To participate in the study, individuals must be between 7 and 50 years old and have knee pain that is not caused by an injury. Participants will be asked to understand the study details fully before agreeing to join. During the trial, participants will undergo a physical examination and the MSU test, all within about an hour, without any treatment being given. It’s important for potential participants to note that those with certain knee issues, previous surgeries, or specific health conditions may not be eligible for the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Eligibility criteria are subjects, aged 7 to 50 years, with clinically confirmed non-traumatic anterior knee pain (AKP). Subjects must be able to read, understand, and speak Dutch. Before participation, the study protocol was expressed verbally and in writing, and subsequently informed consent was obtained. In addition, we assessed whether participants did understand it.
• Inclusion Criteria:
• • All consecutive patients presenting clinical symptoms of AKP were screened for eligibility.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • patients with knee effusion, patients having patella instability, surgeries or previous fractured knee joint in the past, systemic pathology including inflammatory joint disease, and patients with interventions in the last three months including corticosteroid injection or physiotherapy.