Telerehabilitation for Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain around or behind the patella during activities such as stair ambulation, squatting, running, jumping, and prolonged sitting. Exercise therapy combined with patient education is considered first-line treatment, and supervised rehabilitation is commonly used to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. Telerehabilitation may increase accessibility and reduce time and travel burden, but high-quality evidence remains limited regarding whether telerehabilitation provides outcomes that are not inferior to conventional face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in individuals with PFP. This study is a randomized, assessor-blinded, non-inferiority trial designed to compare telerehabilitation with face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in individuals with patellofemoral pain. The trial will evaluate whether telerehabilitation is not inferior to face-to-face supervised rehabilitation in improving pain and knee-related function, while also examining psychological outcomes, self-satisfaction, and adherence.

* Inclusion Criteria * Aged 18 to 45 years * Clinical diagnosis of patellofemoral pain * History of anterior or retropatellar knee pain for at least 3 months * Pain provoked by at least two of the following activities: stair ambulation, squatting, running, jumping, or prolonged sitting * Baseline knee pain intensity of at least 3/10 on the Numerical Rating Pain Scale * Willing and able to participate in the rehabilitation program and follow-up assessments * Able to provide written informed consent * Exclusion Criteria * Previous knee surgery * History of patellar dislocation or instability * Evidence of ligament injury, meniscal injury requiring separate management, moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, or other major structural knee pathology * Concurrent hip, ankle, lumbar spine, or other musculoskeletal disorders substantially affecting lower limb function * Neurological disorders affecting movement or balance * Severe cardiopulmonary or systemic disease contraindicating exercise * Received structured lower limb rehabilitation within the previous 3 months * Pregnancy * Any other condition judged by the investigators to make participation unsuitable