The effect of transverse friction massage and calf stretching for PFPS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of stretches and transverse friction massage to the gastrocnemius in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) – a pilot interventional study
IRAS ID
173368
Contact name
Stuart Hall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
The study will identify patients who have knee pain which is coming from the patella (knee cap). This condition is called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). One of the causes of this condition is excessive calf tightness.
The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of transverse friction massage when added to a home stretching exercise programme.
There will be up to 30 patients equally split into 2 groups of patients (all of which will have been diagnosed by a physiotherapist as having PFPS. All patients will be given home stretches to do, but one group will also be treated with transverse friction massage to the calf for 10 minutes.
Measures of pain at rest and ability to carry out functional activity will be measured before and after. An eccentric step down test (see attached details) will be used to assess the level of irritability in the knee. The study will see whether stretching and massage reduce pain and increase function.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0171
Date of REC Opinion
10 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion