NCT03089008 - Eccentric Exercise in Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy | Crick

Overview

The purpose of the present study is to examine the long-term effect of eccentric exercises compared with stretching exercises on patients with achillodynia.

Patients with achillodynia for at least 3 months are randomly allocated to one of two exercise regimens. Exercise is performed daily for a 3-month period. Symptom severity is evaluated by tendon tenderness, ultrasonography, a questionnaire on pain and other symptoms, and a global assessment of improvement. Follow-up is performed at time points 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks and 1 year.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

45

Conditions

Achillodynia

Interventions

Eccentric exercisesOTHER

Stretching exercisesOTHER

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Pain in the Achilles tendon area with one of the two following findings. a) Distinct tenderness of Achilles tendon with no pain in the neighboring structures. b) Ultrasonographic changes defined as local thickening of the symptomatic tendon or a globally more than 2mm thicker tendon on the sick side. 2. Diffuse pain in the posterior region of the ankle with local tenderness of the Achilles tendon and ultrasonographic changes (as described above). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Treatment of achillodynia with stretching or eccentric training for more than 2 weeks within the last 2 years. 2. Other injuries in the lower extremity or the knee, which by the examining doctor was evaluated to influence the evaluation of symptoms or the ability to perform the training program. 3. Acute symptoms with ultrasonographic changes consistent with a partial rupture of the tendon. 4. Age less than 18 years or over 70 years. 5. Previous operation on the tendon or steroid injections.

Locations (1)

Bispebjerg Hospital

Copenhagen, Denmark

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Manually assessed tenderness at inclusion

The tenderness of the symptomatic tendons was determined manually by applying a moderate amount of pressure (about 1 kg) with the first and second finger on each side of the tendon. The tendon was palpated 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion, and at each level the tenderness score was noted according to the subjects' answers of the pain perceived (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe).

Time frame: At inclusion

Change in manually assessed tenderness after 12 weeks

The tenderness of the symptomatic tendons was determined manually by applying a moderate amount of pressure (about 1 kg) with the first and second finger on each side of the tendon. The tendon was palpated 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion, and at each level the tenderness score was noted according to the subjects' answers of the pain perceived (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe).

Time frame: 12 weeks

Change in manually assessed tenderness after 39 weeks

The tenderness of the symptomatic tendons was determined manually by applying a moderate amount of pressure (about 1 kg) with the first and second finger on each side of the tendon. The tendon was palpated 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion, and at each level the tenderness score was noted according to the subjects' answers of the pain perceived (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe).

Time frame: 39 weeks