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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01423682

The Influence of Eccentric Training on the Volume and Vascularisation of the Rotator Cuff in Patients With Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy and Healthy Subjects

Patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy make up a large part of the population in physiotherapy practice. The rotator cuff, a shoulder muscle group, plays an important role in causing pain. Tendons suffer large compression and friction, which can lead to degeneration of these tendons. Rehabilitation often leads to unsatisfying results.

In Achilles and patella tendinopathy, a new training program called eccentric training has shown very good results. Eccentric training contains exercises during which a force has to be resisted while the muscle lengthens instead of shortens. This would have a larger influence on tendon tissue. Some small studies also show promising results of eccentric training in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy but the mechanisms behind these results remain unclear.

To investigate this, 30 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy and 30 healthy subjects will be evaluated before and immediately after performing the exercise. Three measurements will be done: ultrasonographic measurement of tendon thickness, power Doppler imaging and measurement of microcirculation around the tendon with Oxygen to see. All measurements are non-invasive, pain free and without risks for the human body.

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Key information

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Hospital Ghent

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Patients:

  • Male/ Female
  • 18-40 years old
  • Unilateral shoulder pain for at least 3 months
  • Pain of at least 3/10 on a visual analogue scale
  • Painful arc or pain at end range abduction
  • 2/3 impingement tests positive
  • 2/4 resistance tests positive
  • Pain at insertion rotator cuff

Exclusion criteria

Patients:

  • Spurling test positive
  • Shoulder surgery in the past
  • Osteoarthritis shoulder
  • Full thickness ruptures

Inclusion criteria

Healthy subjects:

  • Male/ Female
  • 18-40 years old

Exclusion criteria

Healthy subjects:

  • Shoulder pain during the last 3 months
  • Shoulder surgery in the past
  • Neck pain or disability
  • Systemic disease (e.g. Marfan, Ehlers Danlos,…)

Treatment and study plan

Eccentric exercise

Behavioral

Patients and healthy subjects will perform an eccentric exercise during which a weight is lifted along the body and lowered with an extended arm at a slow speed. Weight is determined, based on pain in patients and based on force in healthy subjects.

Primary outcomes

  1. Tendon thickness measurement

    Time frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.

    Grey scale ultrasound examination is used.

  2. Tendon vascularisation examination.

    Time frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.

    Power Doppler ultrasound examination is used.

  3. Microcirculation around the tendon examination.

    Time frame: After 30 minutes rest, before performing the exercise.

    Oxygen to see (spectrophotometry and laser Doppler) will be used.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tendon thickness measurements.

    Time frame: 10 minutes after performing the exercise.

    Grey scale ultrasound examination is used.

  2. Tendon vascularisation examination.

    Time frame: 10 minutes after performing the exercise.

    Power Doppler ultrasound examination is used.

  3. Microcirculation around the tendon examination.

    Time frame: 10 minutes after performing the exercise.

    Oxygen to see (spectrophotometry and laser Doppler) will be used.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Ghent

Other

Collaborators

  • Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders, Belgium

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Aug 26, 2011
Registry last updated
Nov 19, 2021

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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