The purpose of this trial is to investigate the efficacy of standard care versus standard care combined with an early progressive exercise program in improving the function of the tendon and leg muscles after non-surgical treated Achilles tendon rupture
Acute Achilles tendon rupture often results in long-term muscular deficits. Patients struggle to return to work and sports with high load on the lower leg. Early functional rehabilitation has shown good results, but research on resistance exercise is scarce and the reporting of the specifics of the exercises are poor.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
82
Consists of a a standard exercise program with range of motion exercises from the third week and elastic band exercise from the sixth week.
This exercise program consists of standard exercises plus the early progressive program that initiates early (second week) and continues with resistance exercises with progression of the load according to individual participant toleration. Exercises are isometric exercises from the second week and then gradually progression of load in seated heel-rise and resistance band exercises.
Orthopeadic department, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital
Aalborg, Denmark
Orthopeadic department, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, North Denmark Regional Hospital Hjørring
Hjørring, Denmark
Achilles tendon total rupture score ATRS
Validated patient reported outcome measure. It contains 10 questions about physical performance in an 11-point Likert scale from zero to ten.
Time frame: 13 weeks
Achilles tendon total rupture score ATRS
Validated patient reported outcome measure. It contains 10 questions about physical performance in an 11-point Likert scale from zero to ten.
Time frame: Baseline, 26 and 52 weeks
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form Danish version. It consists of 7 items concerning physical activity as time spent performing vigorous and moderate activities, the time spent walking and sitting during the past week. The IPAQ gives an estimate of the total weekly physical activity measured in MET-minutes per week and total minutes spent sitting.(MET: The Metabolic Equivalent of Task)
Time frame: baseline, 13, 26 and 52 weeks
Achilles tendon resting angle (ATRA)
ATRA is validated as an indirect measure of the Achilles tendon length
Time frame: 13 and 52 weeks
Achilles tendon length
Ultrasound measure of achilles tendon length using Copenhagen Achilles length measure (CALM)
Time frame: 9, 13 and 52 weeks
Isometric muscle strength
maximal isometric plantar flexor muscle strength using a Fysiometer
Time frame: 9, 13 and 52 weeks
Muscle endurance
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Muscle endurance is measured in seated or standing heel-rise with MuscleLab Measurement system (Ergotest Technology, Oslo, Norway)
Time frame: 13 and 52 weeks
The fear of re-rupture
The Tampa scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) is a questionaire consisting of 17 items concerning pain and kinesiophobia and has 4 answers from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree".
Time frame: 9, 13 and 52 weeks
Adverse events
The number of serious and minor adverse events is registered in a pre-defined list based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
Time frame: 9, 13 and 52 weeks
Compliance
The participants will register the number of exercise sessions they perform each day in a training journal.
Time frame: 9 weeks