Eccentric Exercise for Chronic Mid-portion Achilles Tendinopathy
Unknown statusNot applicableNCT01225497
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This study has no listed site in Canada in this snapshot. It is included as part of the worldwide chronic pain corpus.
Brief summary (from the registry)
Chronic pain and disability are unfortunately common in Achilles tendon pain. Outcome after surgery is often poor. Also tendon pain can be resistant to treatment and may lead to cessation of hobbies or careers. Recently eccentric exercise (defined as muscle loading where tension develops as physical lengthening occurs) has become a cornerstone in managing tendon pain due to an increasing amount of favorable research. Eccentric exercises are considered to be non-invasive, safe, and appear to be important for a successful outcome. One exercise program has been extensively adopted in research and clinical practice for Achilles pain. It recommends individuals perform 180 repetitions a day. However there appears to be little scientific rationale for this number. Consequently there may be significant implications for patient compliance, satisfaction, and overall treatment efficacy in a strategy which is encouraged to be uncomfortable. Fifty two adults (18-70 years old), with mid-Achilles tendon pain will be randomised to standard treatment (180 repetitions) or to a group where individuals are allowed to do what they can. Participants will be recruited from participating physiotherapy departments (health centres and hospital departments) across NHS Forth Valley. All individuals will be required to complete the same type of eccentric exercise for six weeks attending an initial assessment and two follow-up appointments at three and six weeks. Thereafter participants will be discharged if better, or continue with individual care where appropriate. It is hoped this pilot study will establish if future larger scale investigation is warranted examining whether it is necessary to subject individuals to 180 repetitions a day in an activity recommended to be uncomfortable. Also will participant satisfaction differ between exercise groups? If further investigation is warranted this pilot may provide population specific data for future sample size calculations, and may provide a suit…
Study details
- Official title
- Effects of Two Eccentric Exercise Protocols on Reported Pain Intensity, Function, and Treatment Satisfaction in Adults With Chronic Mid-portion Achilles Tendinopathies
- Conditions
- Achilles Tendon
- Tendinopathy
- Interventions
- Procedure: Standard eccentric exercise
- Procedure: Eccentric exercise-Experimental group
- Sponsor
- Queen Margaret University
- Start date
- 2010-11
- Primary completion
- 2011-02
- Sex
- All
- Age range
- from 18 Years to 70 Years
- Results posted
- No results posted in this snapshot
- Countries
- United Kingdom
- Total sites listed
- 1
Eligibility criteria
Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: * Mid-portion Achilles tenderness on palpation or during/after activity 2-7cm proximal to insertion of a month or more duration * Wish to return to previous level of function * Tendon thickening 2-7cm proximal to insertion may or may not be present. Although associated with Achilles tendinopathies it is not required for diagnosis * 18-70 years of age * Ability to give informed written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Indeterminate diagnosis * Tendon insertion pain * Recent fracture of the affected lower limb (within the last 12 months) * Presence of bursitis * Less than one month of symptoms * Previous surgical intervention near the Achilles tendon (within the last 12 months) * Previous experience of eccentric loading * Sudden onset of symptoms suggesting partial rupture rather than tendinopathy * Previous tendon rupture * Steroid injection near the Achilles tendon in the last month * Presence of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or other systemic disorders; radiculopathy etc. that could significantly contribute to posterior ankle pain * Congenital or acquired deformities of the knee or ankle * Inability to complete eccentric exercises * Inability to understand spoken or written English
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01225497