NCT02308618

Rehabilitation Programs After Achilles Tendon Rupture

Achilles Tendon Rupture: Comparative Study Between Two Rehabilitation Programs.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 30 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of early mobilization versus traditional immobilization rehabilitation programs after surgical Achilles tendon repair on the mechanical (torque-angle and torque-velocity relationships) and electrical (neuromuscular activation) properties of the plantar- and dorsiflexor muscles, gastrocnemius medialis morphology (muscle architecture), functional performance, and the mechanical and material properties (force-elongation and stress-strain relationships) of the injured and uninjured Achilles tendon. The hypothesis is that the early mobilization could reduce the deleterious effects of the joint immobilization and improve the tendon healing.

Detailed description

Participants were allocated into one of two intervention groups (traditional immobilization or early mobilization). Traditional immobilization group (45 days of plaster cast immobilization; after the immobilization period, subjects received instructions on how to perform a home-based exercise program) Early mobilization (six weeks of physical therapy program; three times per week; one to two hours of exercises for regaining range of motion and muscular endurance) Control group (subjects had no history of lower limb injury, and were matched in age and anthropometric measurements to subjects that performed physical rehabilitation and to subjects that remained immobilized.

Conditions

• Rupture of Achilles Tendon
• Immobility Response, Tonic
• Rupture, Spontaneous

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Traditional Immobilization	After surgery subjects were immobilized in a plaster cast, with the ankle positioned in gravitational equinus; weight bearing was not allowed. Two weeks post-operatively, the cast was removed and the patient was immobilized with a new plaster cast, with the ankle in the same position. Four weeks post-operatively, the ankle was plastered in neutral position (i.e. with the sole of the foot perpendicular to the shank), and weight bearing was encouraged. Six weeks post-operatively, the plaster cast was removed The home exercise program consisted of active exercises and stretches to improve ankle range of motion, and resistance and balance exercises
OTHER	Early Mobilization	The physical therapy started two weeks after the surgery and lasted six weeks, during which a removable brace was used. Therapy sessions, three times per week in the six-week period, included one to two hours of exercises for regaining range of motion and muscular endurance.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-03-01
• Primary completion: 2014-08-01
• Completion: 2014-08-01
• First posted: 2014-12-04
• Last updated: 2026-02-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil