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Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)NCT06737783

Thoracic Mobility Exercises Impact in Tibio Femoral Arthritis Patients

A study testing Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapy and Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapy in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA), run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to find the effect of thoracic mobility exercises on thoracic hyper kyphosis and hamstring flexibility with tibiofemoral arthritis patients on reducing hyper kyphotic posture, knee pain and improving flexibility of hamstring muscles. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)
What is being tested?
Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapy and Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
32 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
3 Dec 2024to 10 Jun 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 45 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Thoracic Kyphotic angle > 40
  • Asymptomatic (no pain symptoms in) thoracic spine
  • Able to stand independently
  • Less than 70 degree Hip Flexion Angle on active SLR, with limited knee extension range more than 20 degree restriction on AKE test
  • Bilateral Hamstring tightness
  • Visual Analogue Scale in targeted Joint Tibiofemoral arthritis \>3 cm
  • Having Osteoarthritis in Tibio femoral Joint, according to KL (Grade 2 and 3)
  • X-rays showing evidence of reduced knee spaced/osteoarthritis symptoms B/L( >2 year)

Who cannot join

  • Muscle/tendon injuries of hamstring
  • Spinal Injuries, scoliosis, tumors and malignancies
  • Any surgery, infection, skin sensitivity, trauma, fracture and fall
  • Involvement in regular flexibility yoga program
  • Patient with intra articular steroidal therapy with in last 6 months
  • Patient unwilling to comply follow up schedule
  • Patient involvement in another interventional study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site
  • National Institue of Rehabilitation Medicine (Nirm)

    Islamabad, Punjab Province, 46000

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Effects of Thoracic Mobility Exercises on Thoracic Hyper Kyphosis and Impact on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients With Tibio Femoral Arthritis

The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to find the effect of thoracic mobility exercises on thoracic hyper kyphosis and hamstring flexibility with tibiofemoral arthritis patients on reducing hyper kyphotic posture, knee pain and improving flexibility of hamstring muscles.

Read the detailed description

Tibio Femoral Arthritis is a painful heterogeneous musculoskeletal condition that comprises of articular cartilage degradation, distortion of joint tissues, depletion in synovial fluid and progression over time. Decline in joint ROM usually began in fourth decade, more common in women in the age of menopause mostly the age of 45 years or elder. In Pakistan prevalence of Tibio femoral arthritis is 28.0% in urban population and 25.0% in the rural population, estimated o outstretch 35% by 2030. Hamstring muscle are part of superficial posterior anatomical chain in body that form meridians or myofascial chains connected to thoracolumbar fascia via sacro tuberous ligament.

Knee joint movements are primarily facilitated by the quadriceps and hamstrings, which play a crucial role in ensuring smooth and accurate ambulation. Tightness in hamstring put stress on Tibio-femoral joint which further reduce its range of motion especially knee extension, joint loading problems, induce compensatory movements, gait limitations, disturbs overall spinal postural alignment, increase thoracic kyphosis, decrease lumbar lordosis, and inducing posterior pelvic tilt. Until now most existing studies focus on the impact of thoracic mobility on thoracic spine issues or general posture, with limited research on its secondary effects on lower limb flexibility in 45 to 65 years old Tibio femoral arthritic patients. There is still research gap present to identify comprehensive effects of thoracic mobility exercises, on hyper kyphotic postures with tightened hamstrings, complementing Tibio femoral arthritis with aging.

Being tested
Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapy, Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapy
Keywords
Thoracic hyperkyphosis, Hamstring flexibility, thoracic mobility exercises
Medical subject headings
Osteoarthritis, Knee

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapyOther

    mobility exercises comprises of Cat and camel stretch (On hands and knees (supported with knee braces), alternating between arching the back up and dropping it down to stretch thoracic spine), Thoracic rotations in side lying (side lying on the side with knees bent, rotating the upper body to increase thoracic mobility alternatively), Thoracic extension at wall using body weight (Standing with back to wall, gently pushing the upper back into extension while keeping the lower back stable), half kneeling chop thrust (Kneeling on one knee (supported with knee braces), rotating the torso while keeping the pelvis stable to mobilize the thoracic spine) , Thoracic extension with a foam roller (Lying on the back with foam roller along thoracic spine, rolling gently to extend the thoracic spine in supine position). Adopt these positions with 5 secs hold and 15-20 reps will be performed for 2 sets and 10 reps per set.

  • Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapyOther

    Hamstring Self myofascial release with foam roller (Sitting with one leg extended, roll the foam roller along the hamstring while applying pressure to tender spots) 3 sets with 30 to 120 secs rolling duration per second for 5 mins T6-T7 grade 3 Maitland mobilization (Lying on the back, the therapist applies a sustained, posterior-to-anterior force on T6-T7 in prone position) 30 repetitions, with 1 min rest between 4 sets for 15 mins. Conventional therapy includes Hot pack/Cold pack + tens = 15 mins, Frequency 80 Hz, Pulse duration: 100 microseconds, Static quads (10 reps, 10 second hold, 2 sets), Active knee flexion and extension ROMs (10 reps, 5 secs hold, 2 sets), Long Axis Knee traction (5 reps, 30 secs hold, 10sec rest in b/w 2 sets), Kaltenborn Knee Glides Ant and Post direction ( 5 reps, 30 secs hold,10 sec rest interval in b/w 2 sets), Calf stretches (10 reps, 5 secs hold , 2 sets).

Study groups in NCT06737783
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapyExperimentalmobility exercises comprises of Cat and camel stretch (On hands and knees (supported with knee braces), alternating between arching the back up and dropping it down to stretch thoracic spine), Thoracic rotations in side lying (side lying on the side with knees bent, rotating the upper body to increase thoracic mobility alternatively), Thoracic extension at wall using body weight (Standing with back to wall, gently pushing the upper back into extension while keeping the lower back stable), half kneeling chop thrust (Kneeling on one knee (supported with knee braces), rotating the torso while keeping the pelvis stable to mobilize the thoracic spine) ,Thoracic extension with a foam roller (Lying on the back with foam roller along thoracic spine, rolling gently to extend the thoracic spine in supine position). Adopt these positions with 5 secs hold and 15-20 reps will be performed for 2 sets and 10 reps per set. hold and 15-20 reps will be performed for 2 sets and 10 reps per set.
Receives: Other: Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapy
Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization and conventional therapyActive comparatorHamstring Self myofascial release with foam roller (Sitting with one leg extended, roll the foam roller along the hamstring while applying pressure to tender spots) 3 sets with 30 to 120 secs rolling duration per second for 5 mins T6-T7 grade 3 Maitland mobilization (Lying on the back, the therapist applies a sustained, posterior-to-anterior force on T6-T7 in prone position) 30 repetitions, with 1 min rest between 4 sets for 15 mins. Conventional therapy includes Hot pack/Cold pack + tens = 15 mins, Frequency 80 Hz, Pulse duration: 100 microseconds, Static quads (10 reps, 10 second hold, 2 sets), Active knee flexion and extension ROMs (10 reps, 5 secs hold, 2 sets), Long Axis Knee traction (5 reps, 30 secs hold, 10sec rest in b/w 2 sets), Kaltenborn Knee Glides Ant and Post direction ( 5 reps, 30 secs hold,10 sec rest interval in b/w 2 sets), Calf stretches (10 reps, 5 secs hold , 2 sets).
Receives: Other: Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Active knee extension test (Goniometer)

    Active knee extension (AKE) test was to measure hamstring flexibility. The participants lay in the supine/prone position with the tested hip flexed 90°, knee flexed 90° and were asked to extend the knee as much as possible until they felt strong resistance. Ensure Lumbar spine should be in neutral position. Axis of Goniometer will be placed on Lateral femoral condyle of femur. While moving and stationary arm on lateral aspect of midline of femur and fibula. Complete knee extension was 0° shows optimal flexibility and any lack of knee extension was measured with a universal goniometer with higher angle 20 degrees indicates poorer flexibility of hamstring muscles.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  2. Visual Analogue scale VAS

    The VAS is a simple bidirectional graphic tool with a 10-cm horizontal line for assessing musculoskeletal pain intensity. Left side of scale represent 0 digit indicates "no pain" and the right end marked with 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain". The participants were asked to draw a vertical mark on the line to represent their level of pain intensity when patient asked to extend knee from flexion and from flexion position to extension. The length from the left end to the vertical mark, made by the participant shown her/his pain intensity

    Measured: 4 weeks

  3. Baseline bubble Inclinometer

    Thoracic kyphosis angle was calculated using a baseline bubble inclinometer, a device used to measure curvature of spine. Inclinometer can measure angles b/w 20 to 60 degrees for thoracic region on wider arc of 180 degree. Participant should be in neutral position. Firstly, an inclinometer was placed over the spinous process of T1 and T2 for measurement (first inclinometer angle). Secondly, another inclinometer was placed over the spinous process of T12 and L1 for angle measurement (second inclinometer angle). The kyphosis angle was taken by taking difference between two measurements. Threshold for hyperkyphotic is greater 40 degrees.

    Measured: 4 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Dec 2024
  2. Study start3 Dec 2024
  3. Primary completion2 Jun 2025
  4. Study completion10 Jun 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
32 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06737783
Sponsor's protocol ID
REC/02007 Sameen Fatima
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
12 Dec 2024
Last updated
19 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Thoracic mobility exercises + Conventional therapy and Self myofascial release with foam roller, T6- T7 Maitland mobilization + Conventional therapy in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA), run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Active knee extension test (Goniometer) (time frame: 4 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.

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