NCT04651985

Responsiveness of Quantitative Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Measures on the Healing of Achilles Tendon

Effects of Eccentric Strengthening Exercises in Adults With an Achilles Tendinopathy: Predictive Validity and Responsiveness of Quantitative Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Measures

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

To this day, the most accepted treatment for the Achilles tendinopathy (AT) remains the exercise program to strengthen the plantar flexor muscles. The eccentric exercises protocol proposed by Alfredson is the most popular and recommended one by the rehabilitation professionals. Currently, the response to interventions is measured almost exclusively by clinical data, especially using questionnaires, since the Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) is rarely used. In fact, the thickness of the Achilles tendon, which is generally the only measure noted when using musculoskeletal ultrasound on AT, does not allow the clinician to confirm an improvement following an eccentric exercise program if the tendon is thinner, especially in adults with chronic AT. No scientific evidence indicates whether there is an improvement in the biological integrity of the Achilles tendon following the completion of Alfredson's eccentric strengthening protocol. This is why it seems relevant to use the pre-established minimal biomarker data set obtained with the QUS in order to study the variation of these data in response to a rehabilitation intervention and to verify how these variations influence clinical data.

Detailed description

A comprehensive clinical evaluation (questionnaires, clinical examination and ultrasound imaging) will be completed immediately before the intervention (pre), immediately after the intervention (post), and three months after the intervention (follow-up).

Conditions

• Achilles Tendinopathy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Eccentric strengthening exercises of the Achilles tendon	This exercise will require the completion of slow active eccentric plantar flexion exercises with the forefoot positioned over the edge of a step. These exercises will be repeated twice daily (three sets of 15 repetitions with the knee in extension and three sets of 15 repetitions with the knee in flexion) during a three-month period. The amount of loading will be calibrated and progressed on a weekly basis by the physiotherapist according the participant's perceived effort and pain intensity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-08-31
• Primary completion: 2022-07-31
• Completion: 2022-07-31
• First posted: 2020-12-03
• Last updated: 2022-11-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada