Achilles enthesopathy is a common and often long-lasting injury among exercising individuals. Very little is known regarding the effect of different treatment strategies. The purpose of the study is to evaluate two treatment strategies for achilles enthesopathy: Resistance training and restricted loading + corticosteroid injection compared to resistance training and restricted loading + local anesthesia injection. 50 patients with achilles enthesopathy are randomly assigned to the two treatment groups in this double blinded RCT.
Achilles enthesopathy is a common and often long-lasting injury among exercising individuals. Symptoms are pain and swelling at the calcaneal insertion of the achilles tendon during and after exercise. Achilles entesopathy has not been thoroughly investigated and consequently, very little is known regarding the effect of different treatment strategies. The purpose of the study is to evaluate two treatment strategies for achilles enthesopathy: Resistance training and restricted loading + corticosteroid injection compared to resistance training and restricted loading + local anesthesia injection. It is hypothesized that treatment that includes corticosteroid injection is more effective than treatment that includes injection with local anaesthesia. 50 patients with achilles enthesopathy are randomly assigned to the two treatment groups in this double blinded RCT.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
50
Corticosteroid injections are administered ultrasound guided in the bursa adjacent to the achilles tendon insertion every 4 weeks until symptoms resolve with at maximum of 3 injections.
Local anesthesia injections are administered ultrasound guided in the bursa adjacent to the achilles tendon insertion every 4 weeks until symptoms resolve with at maximum of 3 injections.
Bispebjerg Hospital
Copenhagen, Denmark
Change from baseline in The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Achilles Questionnaire (VISA-A)
VISA-A is a patient reported outcome measure (PROM). Change from baseline is measured and reported. The scale ranges from 0-100 points. Higher score meaning a better outcome
Time frame: 6 months
Change from baseline in The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Achilles Questionnaire (VISA-A)
VISA-A is a patient reported outcome measure (PROM). Change from baseline is measured and reported. The scale ranges from 0-100 points. Higher score meaning a better outcome
Time frame: 3, 9 and 12 months
Evaluation of treatment effect measured on a Likert scale.
The Likert scale used is an 11-point scale ranging from -5 to +5. +5 is cured and -5 is much worsened, 0 is the status when entering the study
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
Ultrasonographic measurement of achilles tendon thickness
Ultrasonographic measurement of achilles tendon thickness in mm is measured relative to the baseline values
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
Patient self reported activity level in percentage of the pre-injury activity level
Self reported activity in percentage of the pre-injury activity level
Time frame: 3, 6 and 12 months
Ultrasonographic measurement of achilles tendon doppler activity
Ultrasonographic measurement of achilles tendon doppler activity is measured (grade I-III) relative to the baseline values
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
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