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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05456620

Effectiveness of Reducing Tendon Compression in the Treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is a disabling injury that is common in running athletes. Exercise therapy is considered the best treatment option, but there is still no agreement on the modalities. For example, it is thought that compression overload may be a major cause of tendinopathy and should therefore be restricted during rehabilitation. However, this recommendation is based on expert opinion and not on hard scientific evidence. Therefore, this randomised controlled trial (RCT) will investigate whether a therapy that limits the amount of compression of the tendon during a progressive tendon-loading rehabilitation protocol actually has better outcomes in athletes with insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Athletes with insertional Achilles tendinopathy will be randomised into two treatment groups; (1) an experimental rehabilitation protocol in which the amount of tendon compression is limited and (2) a control rehabilitation protocol in which the amount of tendon compression is not limited and is rather high. Both treatments consist of supervised progressive tendon-loading exercise therapy and patient education. In addition, the experimental group will also receive heel inserts to limit the amount of dorsiflexion during sports or daily activities. At baseline, at 12 weeks (end of intervention) and at 24 weeks (follow-up), pain, functionality, structure and intratendinous pressure will be determined.

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Key information

Conditions

Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Tendinopathy Tendon Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of rehabilitation sciences

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

About this study

Achilles tendinopathy is a debilitating injury that is common among athletes, especially those involved in running sports. Around 30% of all runners exhibit Achilles tendinopathy with an annual incidence of 7-9%. Of these patients, roughly one-third will have insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT). Several mechanisms are considered to play a role in the aetiology of Achilles tendinopathy, yet a prominent role seems present for excessive overload. Traditionally, the nature of this overload is thought to be purely tensile. However, the Achilles tendon can also be exposed to compressive loads at the insertion when the tendon wraps around the posterior prominence of the calcaneus during dorsiflexion of the ankle. The formation of fibrocartilage-like tissue, which is typically found in histological examination of tendinopathy, can be considered as an adaptation to this compressive load, driven by the tenocyte's mechanotransduction process. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the amount of compressive load on the tendon during rehabilitation while exerting sufficient tensile load. However, these recommendations are mainly based on a pilot study and expert opinion. Therefore, this RCT investigates whether a therapy in which the amount of tendon compression is restricted during a progressive tendon-loading rehabilitation protocol actually has better outcomes in terms of pain scores, functionality and structure of the Achilles tendon in athletes with insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Limiting the amount of tendon compression on the Achilles tendon insertion will be achieved by (1) patient education, (2) heel inserts and (3) an adapted exercise regimen.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-60 years old
  • Diagnosed with insertional Achilles Tendinopathy by a sports medicine physician
  • Have experienced symptoms for more than 3 months but less than 3 years
  • A severity level of less than 80 points on the VISA-A score
  • Playing running-based sports at least twice a week
  • Able to comply with both exercise programs

Exclusion criteria

  • Have a history of Achilles tendon rupture or surgery
  • Have other disorders of the Achilles tendon or ankle (mid-portional Achilles tendinopathy, paratenonitis, osteoarthritis,...)
  • Have rheumatological disorder (e.g. Spondylitis Ankylosis)
  • Have metabolic or endocrine disorders, such as type I or type II diabetes
  • Have had an Achilles injection in the past 3 months
  • Have other conditions that prevent following an active exercise programme
  • Have already been treated with physiotherapy, shockwave therapy or orthotics in the past 3 months
  • Medication use with (fluoro)quinolones antibiotic in the past 2 years
  • Currently pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Exercise therapy

Other

The intervention treatment consists of a progressive 4-stage, criteria-based exercise protocol, in which the amount of tendon compression is limited. This includes:

  • Education: Specific information on the importance of limiting tendon compression during rehabilitation, as well as general information on load management, the importance of active exercise therapy and setting expectations.
  • Orthotic treatment: heel inserts to reduce ankle dorsiflexion during daily activities and sports
  • Physiotherapy: Progressive tendon-loading exercise therapy (4 phases) restricting the amount of tendon compression by limiting dorsiflexion of the ankle and prohibiting stretching

Exercise therapy (usual care)

Other

The control treatment consists of a progressive 4-phase, criteria-based exercise protocol, in which the amount of tendon compression is not limited. This includes:

  • Education: general information on load management, the importance of active exercise therapy and setting expectations.
  • No orthotic treatment.
  • Physiotherapy: Progressive tendon-loading exercise therapy (4 phases) without any restriction around tendon compression and encouraging stretching

Primary outcomes

  1. The change of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles Questionnaire (VISA-A) score over 12 weeks

    Time frame: 12 weeks (at the end of intervention)

    The VISA-A score is a measure of pain and lower limb function (disability) associated with Achilles tendinopathy. A higher score indicates a better outcome and a 10 point increase is accepted as being clinically meaningful.

  2. The change of the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles Questionnaire (VISA-A) score over 24 weeks

    Time frame: 24 weeks (at follow-up)

    The VISA-A score is a measure of pain and lower limb function (disability) associated with Achilles tendinopathy. A higher score indicates a better outcome and a 10 point increase is accepted as being clinically meaningful.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Subjective patient satisfaction

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Patient overall rating: excellent / good / fair / poor

  2. Return to sports rate

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Participation: return to desired sport on pre-injury level / return to desired sport but on a lower level / return to sports but not desired sport / no return to sports

  3. Hop test

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Self-reported pain rating on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during a single leg hop test

  4. Lower Extremity Functional Scale

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) is a valid patient-rated outcome measure for the measurement of lower extremity function.

  5. Tampa scale for kinesiophobia (TSK)

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    The TSK is a 17-item self report checklist using a 4-point Likert scale that was developed as a measure of fear of movement or (re)injury.

  6. Heel-raise test

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Participants will have to perform heel raises in standing position until thay are fatigued.

  7. Health status using the EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    The EQ-5D-5L is a self-assessed, health related, quality of life questionnaire.

  8. Pain rating (VAS) during activities of daily living

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Self-reported pain (VAS, 0-100 mm) during activities of daily living over the last seven days. A higher score indicates more pain.

  9. Ultrasound examination to assess the structure of the Achilles tendon insertion

    Time frame: This will be assessed at the start (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24).

    Anteroposterior thickness (5 mm distal from the posterosuperior calcaneal border) - Neovascularisation (modified-Öhberg scale)

  10. Compliance

    Time frame: This will be assessed weekly until the end of the intervention.

    Compliance to the exercise programme and orthotics (total percentage of prescription) will be assessed using a short online questionnaire.

  11. Pain monitoring

    Time frame: This will be assessed weekly until the end of the intervention.

    Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS, 0-10) during exercises, after exercises and in the morning will be assessed. A higher score indicates more pain.

  12. Adverse effects

    Time frame: This will be assessed weekly until the end of the intervention.

    Adverse effects resulting from the intervention

  13. Credibility/Expectations Questionnaire

    Time frame: This wel be assessed at the start of the intervention (week 0)

    As participants are not blinded about their assigned intervention, it is important to determine their beliefs about the treatment. With this in mind, participants will complete the Credibility/Expectations Questionnaire (CEQ) after being assigned to an intervention group.

Other outcomes

  1. Ultrasound examination to assess presence of rectrocalcaneal bursitis and/or intratendinous calcifications

    Time frame: This will be assessed at baseline (week 0)

    Ultrasound examination of the Achilles tendon to assess associated presence of rectrocalcaneal bursitis and/or intratendinous calcifications at the Achilles tendon insertion

  2. X-ray to assess presence of Haglund's deformity

    Time frame: This will be assessed at baseline (week 0)

    X-ray of the ankle to assess associated presence of Haglund's deformity

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Ghent

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Reducing Tendon Compression in the Treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy: a Randomised Clinical Trial

Acronym: GhenTendon

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jul 13, 2022
Registry last updated
Aug 7, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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