Targeted Rehabilitation Versus Standard Care in Managing Medial Knee Pain and Varus Malalignment: A Randomized Control Trial
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Assiut University
- Where
- Egypt1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- People taking part
- 80 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Oct 2025
- Ended
- 30 Oct 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Conventional Knee Physical Therapy Program
- Targeted Alignment-Focused Exercise Program for Varus Knee
- Record updated
- 14 April 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 30 years to 55 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Other criteria
- Inclusion Criteria; Age 30-55 years; BMI 18-25 kg/m²; Presence of medial knee pain; Mild to moderate varus deformity confirmed via long-leg X-ray (e.g., 2° < Hip-Knee-Ankle angle ≤ 10°); Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3 knee osteoarthritis; Active adults based on REFA work classification; Able and willing to complete a 6-week exercise program and follow-up visits; Provision of written informed consent
- Exclusion Criteria:; BMI > 25 kg/m²; History of knee surgery on the affected side; Any contraindication to exercise (e.g., unstable cardiovascular conditions); Other significant musculoskeletal or neurological conditions affecting lower-extremity function (e.g., hip osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy)
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Medial knee pain with varus alignment is common in active adults and is associated with increased medial joint loading, cartilage loss, and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Conventional rehabilitation typically emphasizes quadriceps strengthening and general physiotherapy, which may reduce pain and improve function but often has limited effect on abnormal frontal-plane loading and alignment in individuals with varus deformity. Targeted neuromuscular and alignment-focused exercise programs that emphasize hip and lower-limb muscle control may better address underlying biomechanical contributors to medial knee loading.
Read full original descriptionShow less
This randomized controlled trial will compare a traditional/conventional physical therapy program with a specific, alignment-focused exercise program in active adults aged 30-55 years who have medial knee pain, mild to moderate varus deformity, and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3 knee osteoarthritis. Approximately 80 participants will be recruited from an outpatient setting and randomized (1:1) to receive either traditional rehabilitation or a targeted exercise protocol focusing on hip adductors and internal rotators. The supervised intervention will last 6 weeks, with follow-up assessments at 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. The primary outcome is the Oxford Knee Score, with secondary outcomes including lower-extremity function, pain, quality of life, muscle strength, and radiographic alignment.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Traditional Physical TherapyExisting treatment, for comparison
Participants receive a conventional outpatient physical therapy program for medial knee pain and varus knee osteoarthritis. The program typically includes: * Quadriceps and general lower-extremity strengthening * Range-of-motion and flexibility exercises * Functional and gait training * Other standard modalities or manual techniques as per clinic routine Frequency and duration: supervised sessions over a 6-week period, with a home exercise component
Treatment: Conventional Knee Physical Therapy Program
- Targeted Exercise ProgramTreatment being tested
Participants receive a specific exercise protocol focused on: * Strengthening hip adductors and internal rotators * Lower-limb strength and neuromuscular control aimed at improving dynamic alignment and reducing medial knee load * Progressive closed- and open-chain exercises tailored to varus alignment The program is delivered over 6 weeks in supervised outpatient sessions with a structured home program.
Treatment: Targeted Alignment-Focused Exercise Program for Varus Knee
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Realigning Rehab: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Specific Exercises Versus Standard Care for Medial Knee Pain and Varus Alignment
- Record updated
- 14 April 2026