Mindful Miles Pilot Feasibility Study for Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summary
The goal of this single-arm pilot study is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a progressive outdoor mindful physical activity intervention delivered via the Headspace mobile application for individuals with patellofemoral pain. AIM 1: Determine the feasibility and acceptability of the mindful activity intervention. AIM 2: Determine the preliminary efficacy of the mindful running intervention to improve the primary outcome of (2a) anterior knee pain, and secondary outcomes of (2b) kinesiophobia and (2c) running cadence and vertical forces (gait kinematics) in individuals with PFP. Our central hypothesis is that the intervention will be feasible and acceptable and will improve pain, kinesiophobia (injury-related fear), and running cadence (steps per minute) in individuals with patellofemoral pain. Participants will complete a three-phase progressive mindful physical activity intervention that involves: Phase 1: Introduction to mindfulness Phase 2: Guided mindful running Phase 3: Mindful running.
Description
One in four Americans suffer from chronic knee pain, leading to inactivity, poor health outcomes, and psychological distress. Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is the leading cause of knee pain in the United States and is not a self-limiting condition, meaning intervention is necessary to resolve or improve symptoms. Even with interventions to target biomechanics and strength, most young adults (40-90%) report unfavorable persistent symptoms 1-20 years after PFP diagnosis, significantly impacting long-term quality of life. Psychological distress is a central feature of PFP that may impact physical ac…