The Effect of a Psychologically Informed Video Series to Treat Adolescents With Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To test whether a series of brief, psychologically informed educational videos added to physical therapy improved function among adolescents with patellofemoral pain. The secondary aims were to assess pain and psychological beliefs. A double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sixty-eight adolescents with patellofemoral pain were randomly assigned to view brief, psychologically informed videos (n = 34) or control videos (n = 34) in addition to usual care physical therapy. The psychologically informed videos targeted fear-avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing. The control videos conveyed basic anatomy, biomedical factors, and lower extremity mechanics. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks (primary end point), and 3 months. The primary outcome was change in the Anterior Knee Pain Scale. Secondary outcomes were changes in Numeric Pain-Rating Scale and psychological beliefs (Modified Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale-11, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Child). Adolescents in the psychologically informed group experienced significantly greater improvements in function (Anterior Knee Pain Scale mean difference = 8 points; 95% CI: 2.2, 13.2; = .01) and pain (Numeric Pain-Rating Scale mean difference = 1.2 points; 95% CI: 0.1, 2.4; = .04) at 6 weeks compared to the control group. The psychologically informed group had significantly greater reductions in psychological beliefs over time than the control group (≤.001; partial η = 0.32). Incorporating psychologically informed education into physical therapy care improved function, pain, and psychological beliefs to a greater extent than the control group. .