Trial reportArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2025
The application of a digital therapeutic reveals superior outcome compared to standard care in patients with anterior knee pain-a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of telerehabilitation versus home exercise and in-person therapy for nonoperatively managed tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.The Journal of international medical research · 2026Pooled it
- Artificial Intelligence in Orthopaedics: The Future Through the Lens of Knee Surgery.Balkan medical journal · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAnterior knee pain is a frequent symptom caused by disorders like patellofemoral pain syndrome or patella tendon tendinitis, which is commonly treated conservatively. The aim of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of a digital therapeutic (DT) versus German standard care through a prospective, randomized, multicenter controlled trial.
methodsStudy participants were recruited in 9 orthopedic specialist centers diagnosed with anterior knee pain and a NPRS score of ≥ 4. Stratified randomization for n = 140 participants was conducted, assigning participants to the intervention group (exclusive use of DT) or the control group (standard care). Standard care included 1-3 prescriptions for physical therapy, while the DT consisted of a 90-day personalized exercise therapy program including educational content. The primary endpoints were pain measured by NPRS and functional impairment measured by the Kujala Score.
resultsThe use of the DT compared to the standard care showed an improvement in clinical outcomes (NPRS = - 3.7 ± 2.67 and Kujala = 18.00 ± 13.96, both p < 0.001). Both pain and function improved clinically and statistically significantly compared to the control group (ANOVA: NPRS = - 1.64 ± 0.35, p < 0.001, Kujala = 9.26 ± 2.52, p < 0.01).
conclusionThe use of the DT showed significant improvements in pain and function compared to the current standard therapy. These results are highly relevant for clinical practice in the treatment decision-making for patients with anterior knee pain as the DT bridges effectively gaps in the healthcare systems.
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