NCT05702918

Evaluation of the Course and Effectiveness of Conservative Therapy in Patients With Achilles Tendinopathy

Evaluation of the Course and Effectiveness of Conservative Therapy in Patients With Achilles Tendinopathy Using Ultrasonography

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 47 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Motol · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This work is designed as a randomized clinical trial, in which the effects of a protocol of 12-week resistance training loading the Achilles tendon and low-energy focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) will be monitored. It is estimated that at least 40 patients will participate, randomly divided into two groups. Group A will be instructed to perform a training protocol in combination with ESWT according to selected parameters. Group B only completes the same training protocol.

Detailed description

This work is designed as a randomized clinical trial, in which the effects of a protocol of 12-week resistance training loading the Achilles tendon and low-energy focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) will be monitored. It is estimated that at least 40 patients will participate, randomly divided into two groups. Group A will be instructed to perform a training protocol in combination with ESWT according to selected parameters. Group B only completes the same training protocol. The research within one patient will last a total of 26 weeks from the initial to the final examination and will include several control measurements: at 6, 12, and 26 week from the beginning of therapy. Potential participants will be selected based on the recommendation of a specialist doctor and their suitability will be assessed according to the inclusion criteria. They will then be invited to an initial examination. This will include an objective examination by a physiotherapist, a subjective assessment by the patient and an ultrasonographic (USG) examination followed by a micromorphological analysis using special software. At the end of the initial examination, the participant will be randomly assigned to group A or B. The study program for a specific participant will depend on the assigned group.

Conditions

• Achilles Tendinopathy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	BTL-6000 FSWT	The energy will be set to 0.10-0.14 mJ/mm2, frequency 5 Hz, total number of shocks 2000. The application will be semi-static at the location of the largest USG finding. Shocks are applied from all three sides (medial, lateral, dorsal).
OTHER	Achilles Tendon Loading Exercise Protocol According to Silbernagel	It is a 12-week Silbernagel ankle dorsiflexion resistance training protocol. It is a series of exercises with a gradual progression of load according to defined criteria, which the patient practices every day.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-01-24
• Primary completion: 2024-12-01
• Completion: 2024-12-01
• First posted: 2023-01-27
• Last updated: 2026-01-14
• Results posted: 2026-01-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Czechia