Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42895359›Full record

Trial reportJournal of rehabilitation medicine2026

Clinical and functional outcomes of aquatic plyometrics in adolescent patellofemoral pain syndrome: a dual-arm randomized controlled trial.

Mazyad A Alotaibi, Ragab K Elnaggar, Ahmed S Alhowimel, Saud M Alrawaili, Tamer E Elnegamy, Hesham A Alfeheid, Maged A Basha, FatmaAlzahraa H Kamel, Saleh M Aloraini, Feras Alsultan and 2 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mazyad A AlotaibiDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Ragab K ElnaggarDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. rke_pt2001@yahoo.com.
Ahmed S AlhowimelDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Saud M AlrawailiDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Tamer E ElnegamyDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Hesham A AlfeheidDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Maged A BashaDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
FatmaAlzahraa H KamelDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Saleh M AlorainiDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Feras AlsultanDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Amal AlharbiDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud S ElfakharanyDepartment of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveOptimal management of adolescent patellofemoral pain syndrome requires evidence-based interventions that maximize physical recovery without overloading the patellofemoral joint. This study investigated the efficacy of aquatic plyometric (Aquatic-Plyo) exercises on pain, muscle strength, and functional disability and health-related quality of life in this demographic.

designA dual-arm randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: 56 adolescents with patellofemoral pain syndrome (age: 10-18 years).

methodsAdolescents were allocated to an experimental Aquatic-Plyo group or a control group performing conventional exercises. Both arms completed 45-min sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Pre- and post-treatment assessments included pain intensity, isokinetic knee (quadriceps and hamstrings) torque at 120°/s and 180°/s, functional disability, and health-related quality of life.

resultsMixed-model ANOVA confirmed the therapeutic dominance of the Aquatic-Plyo protocol. It yielded superior pain relief (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.14) and larger increases in quadriceps [120°/s (p = 0.006, η2p = 0.13); 180°/s (p = 0.008, η2p = 0.12)] and hamstring [120°/s (p = 0.007, η2p = 0.13); 180°/s (p = 0.023, η2p = 0.09)] peak torque. Moreover, the Aquatic-Plyo intervention drove greater reduction in functional disability (p = 0.03, η2p = 0.08) and notable enhancement in perceived health-related quality of life (p = 0.023, η2p = 0.09).

conclusionAquatic-Plyo exercises effectively reduces pain and disability while improving muscle strength and health-related quality of life in adolescents with patellofemoral pain syndrome, making it a valuable addition to conservative rehabilitation strategies.

Indexed as

Patellofemoral Pain SyndromePlyometric ExerciseAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleMuscle StrengthPain MeasurementQuality of LifeTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42895359
PMCPMC13685587

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.