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NCT Number: NCT07123246

"Effects of Rigid Tape in Patients With Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy"

The aim of this study will be to determine the clinical effects of rigid tape in patients with chronic MAT. The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate the immediate and short term pain, the height and pain during the vertical jump, the satisfaction of the use of the tape and the global rating of change (GROC) of the intervention. This study will be a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comprising a total sample size of 36 participants with MAT of both genders and aged between 18 and 50 years. Subjects will undergo a screening process by a sports medicine doctor by different diagnostic tests to identify those presenting a diagnosis of painful MAT and then, they will be randomized into either a group performing experimental rigid tape (G1), or a group performing placebo tape (G2). The study will assess the subjects immediate and short-term tendon pain following the tape application during running and vertical jump. Also the tape satisfaction and GROC will be assessed. The rigid tape will be applied in the central portion of the Achilles tendon. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediate after the application of the tape and 72 hours after. The GROC will only be assessed at the end of the treatment. All the evaluations will be performed by a blinded physiotherapist. The patient will also be blinded.

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Key information

Conditions

Achilles Tendinopathy (AT)

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral MAT
  • Achilles pain > 3 months
  • Age ranging between 18 to 50 years, both genders
  • Read and speak Spanish well enough to provide informed consent and follow study instructions.
  • Pain during running and jumping.

Exclusion criteria

  • Any ankle or foot surgery
  • History of Achilles rupture
  • Heel pain in the last 3 months
  • Systemic disorders/diseases
  • Body mass index > 30kg/m2
  • Self-report of pregnancy
  • Pain < 2/100 of average pain on VAS
  • VISA A score > 90 points

Treatment and study plan

Rigid Tape

Other

Inelastic rigid tape (Strappal) applied to discharge the Achilles tendon

Placebo control

Other

A pre-tape and a short piece of rigid tape applied without tension.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change on pain intensity

    Time frame: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

    The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity during running and jumping. This scale consists of a sequence of numbers from 0 (no pain) to 100 mm (most severe pain).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change on single leg vertical jump

    Time frame: At baseline, immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

    This test will assess the height in cm and power of a vertical jump using the My Jump app, validated by Gallardo-Fuentes in 2016. The instructions will be jumping as high as possible with hands on the subject's waist. Participants will perform 3 repetitions in a non-consecutive manner.

  2. Change on feeling of comfort of the tape

    Time frame: Immediately and 72 hours after the intervention

    The satisfaction of the tape will be assessed by the Likert Scale. This rating scale measures the positive or negative response to the intervention. The format of this scale will be divided into five levels: "very uncomfortable", "uncomfortable", "normal", "comfortable", and "very comfortable".

  3. Change in perception of improvement of the treatment

    Time frame: 72 hours after the intervention

    The Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess the subjective perception of change in a patient's condition following an intervention. It helps determine whether a patient's condition has improved, worsened, or remained the same since the start of treatment. The magnitude of this difference is recorded on an 11-point visual analog scale, starting from "0" (no change) as the midpoint, and presenting at its extremes "-5" (much worse) and "+5" (completely better).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Gonzalo Elías, PT Msc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+54 9 0341-156051190

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Gran Rosario

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 14, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2025

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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