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NCT Number: NCT06100822

Managing Chronic Tendon Pain by Metformin

The purpose of the current exploratory clinical trial is to determine the effect of oral ingestion of metformin (OIM) in non-diabetic patients with chronic Achilles tendon pain. The trial has two aims; 1) to assess the effects of OIM treatment on tendon pain, and 2) to determine the effects of OIM capsules on tendon healing and repair. Twenty participants will be treated with metformin capsules for 16 weeks combined with a home exercise program. A comparison group of 20 participants will be treated with placebo tablets along with home exercise program.

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Key information

Conditions

Tendinopathy Achilles Tendinopathy Chronic Pain Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Tendon Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Jessica Eldridge

CONTACT

[email protected]

About this study

This is a blinded and randomized controlled trial that focuses on the treatment effects of metformin (Met) on chronic tendon pain, healing, and repair in midportion Achilles tendinopathy. We will include a total 40 patients randomly divided into two equal groups:

Group 1: Home Exercise Program + Placebo as a control group

Group 2: Home Exercise Program + Oral Ingestion of Metformin

Patients in group 1 will receive placebo capsules,1 capsule (500 mg) daily for week one, 2 capsules (1,000 mg) daily for week two, 3 capsules daily for week 3 (1,500 mg), and 4 capsules daily (2,000 mg) for weeks 4-16. Patients in group 2 will receive metformin capsules,1 capsule (500 mg) daily for week one, 2 capsules (1,000 mg) daily for week two, 3 capsules daily for week 3 (1,500 mg), and 4 capsules daily (2,000 mg) for weeks 4-16. All patients will participate in a home exercise program through MedBridge, a HIPAA-compliant participant portal currently used by physical therapists at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. There are 3 visits for this study. Visits include a Screening/Baseline visit, week 4 and week 16 visit. During each visit, participants will answer questions, complete functional testing, and undergo an ultrasound of the Achilles Tendon.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Willing and able to provide informed consent for participation
  • Clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy
  • Pain disability index score of between 20 - 70 points (0-100 scale VISA-A)
  • Sonopalpation tenderness with tendon thickening and/or loss of fibrillary architecture.
  • Ability to read, speak, and understand English

Exclusion criteria

  • Any intervention (corticosteroids or other orthobiologic intervention as injection) to targeted tissue within the last 6 months.
  • Previous Achilles tendon surgery.
  • Known platelet abnormality or hematological disorder.
  • Presence of other conditions that might affect the functional scale of the indexed limb.
  • Unwillingness to be randomized.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30.
  • Occult tear in the indexed tendon.
  • Systemic inflammatory disease.
  • Use of fluoroquinolone in the past 6 months.
  • Subjects must not be pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed during the course of the trial
  • Chronic kidney disease (eGFR <60)
  • Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or elevated HbA1c at screening (> 6.5)
  • Unable to take an oral medication in a non crushable pill form
  • Taking metformin presently or within the last 6 months
  • History of allergy to metformin
  • History of lactic acidosis or elevated lactate at screening (> 2.2)
  • Severe Hepatic dysfunction
  • Currently taking a diabetic medication such as sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, alogliptin, sitagliptin with metformin
  • Currently taking a Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as topiramate, zonisamide, acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, methazolamide
  • Currently taking cimetidine

Treatment and study plan

metformin

Drug

500 mg capsules of Metformin Extended Release

Other names: Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Metformin Extended Release, Metformin ER

Placebo

Drug

500 mg capsules of placebo pills

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) Score

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    The VISA-A is a self-administered questionnaire that asks about Achilles tendon pain, function, and activity. Scores range from 0 to 100 with a low score indicating more severe pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in VAS score

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    The VAS is a self-administered questionnaire that asks about pain. Scores range from 0 to 10 with a high score indicating more severe pain.

  2. Change in tendon thickness

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Images of the Achilles tendon in long axis will be acquired using B-mode ultrasound imaging. Maximum Achilles tendon thickness (mm) will be measured by a blinded investigator.

  3. Change in tendon cross-sectional area

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Images of the Achilles tendon in short axis will be acquired using B-mode ultrasound imaging. Maximum Achilles tendon cross-sectional area (mm^2) will be measured by a blinded investigator.

  4. Change in tendon neovascularization

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Achilles tendon neovascularization will be evaluated using the 5-point modified Ohberg scale:

    0 - no vessels visible

    • one vessel, mostly anterior to the tendon
    • one or two vessels throughout the tendon
    • three vessels throughout the tendon
    • more than three vessels throughout the tendon

  5. Change in tendon hypoechogenicity

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Hypoechogenicity is indicative of disruption of the normal fibrillar structure of the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon hypoechogenicity will be evaluated using a semi-quantitative 3-point scale:

    0 - no hypoechogenicity

    • - Heterogeneous echotexture with diffuse hypoechogenicity between fibrillar echoes and/or foci of discontinuity in collagen fibrillar echoes
    • - Heterogeneous echotexture with discrete hypoechoic area/s of >1mm and/or presence of intrasubstance tears

  6. Change in maximum number of heel raises

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    The subject will stand barefoot on a 10° incline board and perform heel raises at a rate of 30 Hz (2 seconds per repetition, pace provided by audible metronome), while keeping their knee straight. Subjects will be allowed to have 2 fingertips per hand at shoulder height against the wall for balance. Participants will stop when they are unable to perform any additional repetitions, or if they fail to maintain proper form. Number of repetitions will be recorded.

  7. Change in heel raise height

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    The subject will stand barefoot on a 10° incline board and perform heel raises at a rate of 30 Hz (2 seconds per repetition, pace provided by audible metronome), while keeping their knee straight. Subjects will be allowed to have 2 fingertips per hand at shoulder height against the wall for balance. Participants will stop when they are unable to perform any additional repetitions, or if they fail to maintain proper form. Maximum height of heel rise achieved during repetitions will be measured using the Calf Raise App.

  8. Change in heel raise work

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    The subject will stand barefoot on a 10° incline board and perform heel raises at a rate of 30 Hz (2 seconds per repetition, pace provided by audible metronome), while keeping their knee straight. Subjects will be allowed to have 2 fingertips per hand at shoulder height against the wall for balance. Participants will stop when they are unable to perform any additional repetitions, or if they fail to maintain proper form. Total work (body weight x total distance) will be measured using the Calf Raise App.

  9. Change in counter movement jump height

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Subjects will stand on a single leg with their hands behind their back, bend their knee as much as desired, and jump as high as possible from flat ground. Three trials will be performed. Jump height will be determined using the My Jump2 App and the highest jump height will be utilized in further analysis.

  10. Change in drop counter movement jump height

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Subjects will stand on a single leg on top of an 8" plyometric box, with their hands behind their back. They will be asked to "fall" down to the floor and then immediately jump as high as possible from flat ground. Three trials will be performed. Jump height will be analyzed using the My Jump2 App and the highest jump height will be utilized in further analysis.

  11. Change in VAS score during hopping

    Time frame: baseline, 4 weeks, 16 weeks

    Subjects will be asked to complete two 2 trials of 25 single leg hops at a natural cadence similar to jumping rope (~2 jumps/second). Subjects will be asked to rate their pain during the exercise using VAS (0-10).

Study contacts

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

James H Wang, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

4126489102

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

James Wang

Other

Collaborators

  • United States Department of Defense

Registry information

Official study title

Managing Chronic Tendon Pain by Repurposing Metformin

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Oct 25, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2026

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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