Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Eccentric loading versus shock-wave therapy for insertional Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
A new regimen of eccentric calf muscle training provides equivalent outcome as shock-wave therapy (SWT) for recalcitrant insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Ethics approval
The local medical ethics committee (Ethik-Kommission, Landesärztekammer Rheinland-Pfalz) approved on the 13th of December 2005 (ref: 4988)
Study design
Randomised active controlled parallel group trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Intervention
1. Eccentric Loading:
All patients were given a practical demonstration and hand written instructions of the exercises by the same physician at the beginning of the study. The eccentric calf muscle training was performed in an upright body position with a straight leg. The patients performed a heel raise with the non-injured leg, then all body weight was transferred to the injured side, and from the heel raised position the patients slowly lowered the heel to the floor-level. There was no load with the ankle in dorsiflexion. This was done 3 times for 15 repetitions, twice a day, 7 days/week, for 12 weeks. If there was no pain during the exercise the load was increased by using a backpack that was gradually filled with weights to reach a new level of painful training.
2. Shock-Wave Therapy:
Patients received SWT administered by the senior author. A radial shock wave device (EMS Swiss Dolorclast, Munich, Germany) was used. A projectile in a handpiece is accelerated by a pressurised air source and strikes a 15mm diameter metal applicator. The energy generated is transmitted to the patients skin as a shock wave through a standard commercially available ultrasound gel. The wave then disperses radially from the application site into the tissue to be treated. The energy generated depends considerably on the working pressure to which the device has been set. Following previous recommendation20, SWT was performed three times, spaced one week apart. At each of the three sessions, 2000 pulses were applied with a pressure of 2.5 bar (equalling an energy flux density of 0.12 mJ/mm²). The treatment frequency was 8 pulses/sec. Using the principle of clinical focusing, the area of maximal tenderness was treated in a circumferential pattern, starting at the point of maximum pain. No local anaesthetic was applied.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment Achilles (VISA-A) Score:
At each visit, every patient completed the VISA-a questionnaire which is validated for Achilles tendon problems. It contains eight questions that cover the three domains of pain (questions 1 - 3), function (questions 4 - 6), and activity (questions 7 and 8). Questions one to seven are scored on a basis of 10 points, and question 8 has a maximum of 30. Scores are summed to give a total. An asymptomatic person would score 100.
Secondary outcome measures
1. General outcome was scored by the patient on a six-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 6. For the computation of success rates, patients who rated themselves 1 or 2 (i.e. completely recovered or much improved) were counted as successes.
2. Pain assessment
2.1. Patients also scored the severity of their main complaint, pain during the day, and inconvenience on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS; 0=no pain to 10=very severe pain).
2.2. An algometer (Pain Test-Model FPK, Wagner Instruments, Greenwich, CT) was used as a semi-objective measuring device that allows assessment of pressure pain threshold and tenderness using a 1 cm² tip.
2.3. Pain threshold was defined as the minimum pressure captured through its 1cm² tip which induced pain in the most tender area of the Achilles insertion.
2.4. Tenderness was defined as the pain rating on the numeric rating scale induced when a pressure of 3 kg was applied to the most tender area of the Achilles tendon insertion.
Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 2, 4 and 15 months.
Overall trial start date
01/01/2008
Overall trial end date
31/12/2009
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Adult patients with chronic recalcitrant (> 6 months) insertional Achilles tendinopathy
2. All patients had been treated unsuccessfully for at least 3 months, including local injections and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
150
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Patients presenting with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy
2. Patients presenting with superficial or retrocalcaneal fluid on the ultrasound examination as a sign of bursitis
3. Patients showing a Haglunds deformity, a prominent postero-superior lateral aspect of the calcaneus, with a Fowler-Philip angle of greater than 75° on plain radiographs. All patients had plain radiographs of the calcaneus to identify tendon calcification.
Recruitment start date
01/01/2008
Recruitment end date
31/12/2009
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Germany
Trial participating centre
OrthoTrauma Evaluation Center
Mainz
D-55130
Germany
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
OrthoTrauma Evaluation Centre (Germany) - Investigator initiated trial
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list