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Astym® Compared Eccentric Exercise for Chronic Mid-substance Achilles Tendinopathy

TerminatedNot applicableNCT01902433
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Recruiting status changes often. Contact the study team listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, and talk to your doctor before joining a study.

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)

The purpose of this study is to compare the changes in pain and self-perceived function between two different treatments for Achilles tendinopathy: the Astym® protocol (a form of soft tissue mobilization using instruments) and a specific exercise protocol that involves strengthening the calf and Achilles tendon. Astym® (A-stim) is not an acronym, but rather stands for "A Stimulation" of the body's healing response, describing the physiologic process which occurs with Astym treatment. Astym is the trademark name of a non-invasive treatment where instruments are applied topically to locate unhealthy soft tissue, and to transfer mild to moderate pressure to the underlying soft tissue structures. The aim of Astym treatment is to eliminate scar tissue and stimulate tissue regeneration. Both the principal investigator and co-investigator have been trained and certified in administering the Astym treatment. The specific exercise protocol will involve exercises that strengthen the Achilles and calf through eccentric exercise. Eccentric exercise is a form of exercise where the benefit comes from applying a controlled lengthening stress to the muscle and tendon.

Study details

Official title
Astym® Treatment Compared With Eccentric Exercise in the Management of Chronic Mid-substance Achilles Tendinopathy: A Multisite a Randomized Controlled Trial
Conditions
  • Achilles Tendon Pain
Interventions
  • Procedure: Astym
Sponsor
Emily Slaven, PT, PhD
Collaborators
Performance Dynamics
Organization
University of Indianapolis
Start date
2013-08
Primary completion
2017-01
Sex
All
Age range
from 20 Years to 60 Years
Results posted
No results posted in this snapshot
Countries
United States
Total sites listed
2

Eligibility criteria

Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria * Pain for 3 months or longer in the mid portion of only one Achilles tendon. * Must read, speak and understand English Exclusion Criteria * Previous surgery to the Achilles tendon that is currently painful * An injection into the Achilles tendon in the previous 4 weeks * Have symptoms in both Achilles tendons concurrently * Have taken fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the past 6 months

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01902433